10 Dirhams MAR Banknote (King Hassan II Issue) 1987

10 Dirhams Moroccan Dirham (Issued 1987)

Few banknotes capture the confidence of a nation’s modern identity quite so deliberately as Morocco’s 1987 ten dirham note, which placed the reigning monarch at the heart of daily commerce during a period of significant national development. King Hassan II, who ruled Morocco from 1961 until his death in 1999, was a defining figure in twentieth-century North African politics, and his image on this note reflected both the centralisation of royal authority and the cultural pride that Bank Al-Maghrib sought to project through its currency design. The 1987 issue carries dual dating in both the Islamic calendar year 1407 and the Gregorian year 1987, acknowledging Morocco’s dual cultural heritage and its place at the intersection of Arab, Berber, and broader Mediterranean civilisation. Together with the traditional architectural and musical imagery on the reverse, the note presents a carefully composed portrait of a nation proud of its heritage and forward-looking in its aspirations.

On the front, the dominant feature is a finely engraved portrait of King Hassan II positioned to the right of centre, rendered with precise intaglio detail that captures the sharp definition of his features, his dark suit and tie, and his composed, authoritative expression. The portrait is set against a warm salmon-pink and rose-red ground that flows across the entire face of the note, with subtle tonal gradations giving depth to the background. Behind and to the left of the portrait, a detailed architectural vignette depicts a Moroccan courtyard or palace interior, featuring arched doorways, ornate carved stonework, and columned galleries characteristic of traditional Moroccan royal architecture — likely evoking the historic monuments of Rabat or Fès. To the upper right of the note, a distinctive multicoloured geometric panel features an overlapping circular motif with segments rendered in green, orange, blue, and yellow, contrasting vividly against the red background and providing both an aesthetic focal point and a security-oriented design element. The issuing authority is identified in bold Arabic script as بنك المغرب (Bank Al-Maghrib), positioned prominently across the upper-centre of the note. Below this, the denomination is stated in large Arabic numerals and script reading عشرة دراهم — ten dirhams — set within a lower border panel that transitions into deeper red tones. The serial number ب23ب949549 appears in both the upper left and upper right corners in Arabic-Indic numerals, with the Arabic letter prefix clearly visible. Dual dating appears at the lower right of the portrait field, showing 1407 and 1987 side by side, and a signature in Arabic script is present above the bank name, attributing the note to the governor of Bank Al-Maghrib. Fine guilloché patterning covers the background in intricate, repeating whorls that are characteristic of high-security currency printing of the period.

The reverse is dominated by a large, finely detailed engraving of a traditional Moroccan oud — the short-necked, pear-shaped string instrument central to Arabic and Andalusian musical traditions — rendered in warm brown and ochre tones against the pale background. The oud is depicted with considerable technical precision, showing the instrument’s distinctive ribbed body, decorative rosette soundhole, and multiple strings extending to an angled pegbox. Immediately to the left of the oud, a substantial architectural element is engraved, depicting what appears to be an ornate carved stone capital or column head, richly detailed with foliate and geometric carving typical of Moroccan Hispano-Moorish craftsmanship, with arched architectural framing suggesting a grand public or royal building. To the far left of the note, a vertical panel features a series of finely drawn arched window or doorway motifs, recalling the horseshoe arches and decorative niches found in Morocco’s historic medinas and religious buildings. A central rectangular field behind the oud is filled with interlocking geometric maze-like patterns in red and blue, drawing on the tradition of Moroccan zellige tilework and zouak decorative arts. In the upper left portion of the reverse, the numeral 10 appears in red within a circular motif, complemented by a small red five-pointed star to the right-hand side, echoing the star on Morocco’s national flag. The issuing authority and denomination are clearly stated in Latin script at the top: BANK AL-MAGHRIB and 10 DIRHAMS in bold red lettering. A row of four small orange or red squares appears near the lower right, serving as a machine-readable or tactile orientation feature, and the numeral 10 is repeated in red at the bottom right corner. The overall colour palette of the reverse combines pale cream paper with warm pink, red, blue, and brown tones, maintaining visual coherence with the front of the note.

Exchange foreign coins and notes with no fuss: Webuyallcurrency.com accepts this 1987 ten dirham banknote and other old or withdrawn Moroccan Dirhams banknotes, paying out for everything together in a single transaction.

• Indicate the quantity of 10 Dirhams Moroccan Dirham banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

Webuyallcurrency.com buys and exchanges foreign currency of every kind, so your Moroccan Dirhams banknotes — withdrawn or current — can be sold for cash together with the rest of your leftover coins and notes.