1 Pound EGY Banknote (Kingdom / Early Republic) 2016-2022

1 Pound Egyptian Pound (Issued 2016-2022)

Egypt’s one pound note occupies a distinctive place in the nation’s monetary history, blending Islamic architectural heritage with ancient pharaonic imagery across its two faces. Issued by the Central Bank of Egypt between 2016 and 2022, this note circulated during a period of significant economic reform in Egypt, including the landmark currency float of November 2016 that dramatically altered the pound’s exchange rate against international currencies. The note’s compact denomination made it one of the most frequently handled pieces of currency in everyday Egyptian commerce. Its continued production across this period reflects sustained public demand and the Central Bank’s commitment to maintaining a consistent visual identity for its lowest paper denomination.

On the front, the dominant central image is a finely engraved depiction of the Sultan Hassan Mosque and its surrounding complex in Cairo, rendered with considerable architectural detail showing the mosque’s imposing façade, its tall minaret rising prominently against a plain background, and the characteristic Mamluk-era stonework of the structure. The engraving is executed in deep reddish-brown and dark plum tones against a warm golden-ochre ground, with the mosque seated within a large circular vignette framed by decorative dotted borders. The background of the note is covered with an intricate repeating geometric pattern of interlocking arabesques and Islamic tilework in gold and cream tones, characteristic of guilloché-style security printing. To the upper right, a circular ornamental motif in dark brown echoes the geometric complexity of traditional Islamic decorative arts. Arabic script dominates the typography: the issuing authority name, البنك المركزي المصري (Central Bank of Egypt), appears prominently in the upper right in bold Arabic lettering, while the denomination جنيه واحد (One Pound) is printed in large, emphatic Arabic script across the centre of the note. The numeral ١ appears in the upper right corner within a defined panel. A serial number, printed twice — once in the upper left and once in the lower centre — reads 599/J1702608 in dark ink, and a date of 2018/8/2 is visible on the lower left, indicating the specific print date of this example. A signature line appears beneath the Central Bank name, attributed to the governor, with the title المحافظ (The Governor) printed below it. The lower portion of the note carries a line of fine Arabic text serving as a legal tender declaration, printed in very small typeface along the bottom edge. The overall paper is cream-white with a visible security thread running vertically through the note.

The reverse of the note is printed predominantly in warm golden-amber and tan tones, presenting a striking engraved scene of the colossal seated statues at the Temple of Abu Simbel, the great rock-cut monument commissioned by Ramesses II. Four enormous pharaonic figures are depicted seated side by side against the carved temple façade, rendered with careful engraving detail that captures the scale, headdresses, and formal posture of these ancient sculptures. Hieroglyphic cartouches and decorative ancient Egyptian motifs flank the central vignette on both left and right sides, while a row of smaller standing figures is visible at the base of the statues within the scene. The denomination numeral 1 appears in a box to the upper right of the reverse, and the text “ONE POUND” is printed in bold Latin serif lettering in the lower right corner in dark reddish-brown ink. The words “Central Bank of Egypt” are printed across the top of the reverse in English, in a flowing serif script, clearly legible in dark brown. Repeating ankh symbols form a subtle border pattern running along the left and right edges of the reverse, adding a further layer of ancient Egyptian decorative reference. A fine dotted border frames the central vignette, and the overall background retains the pale cream paper tone, allowing the engraved imagery to stand with strong contrast.

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• Indicate the quantity of 1 Pound Egyptian Pound banknotes you want to exchange
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• Your online account now shows the exchange value

From leftover holiday money to inherited collections, Webuyallcurrency.com will exchange or buy your Egyptian Pounds banknotes and other foreign currency, handling old and withdrawn pieces in the same simple process.