50 Dirhams MAR Banknote (Commemorative / Mohammed VI Era) 2009

50 Dirhams Moroccan Dirham (Issued 2009)

Bank Al-Maghrib, the central bank of Morocco, was established in 1959 following Moroccan independence, taking over from the State Bank of Morocco to serve as the sovereign monetary authority of the newly independent nation. Charged with issuing currency, regulating the financial system, and managing monetary policy, Bank Al-Maghrib has been the sole issuer of Moroccan banknotes for over six decades. The 50 Dirhams note issued in 2009 carries particular institutional significance, as it was produced to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the bank’s own founding, making it one of the few banknotes in modern Moroccan monetary history to honour the issuing institution itself. This commemorative status gives the note a dual identity — both a functioning piece of currency and a document of the bank’s half-century of service to Morocco’s economy.

On the front, the note is dominated by a striking multi-portrait composition rendered in detailed intaglio engraving against a pale green and cream ground. The leftmost and largest portrait is that of King Mohammed VI, the reigning monarch of Morocco at the time of issue, depicted in a formal suit with a composed and authoritative expression. Immediately to his right, slightly smaller and receding in scale, is a portrait of King Hassan II, who reigned from 1961 until his death in 1999, shown in a dark suit. Continuing the sequence is King Mohammed V, the father of Moroccan independence and first post-colonial monarch, identifiable by his traditional Moroccan djellaba and tarboush cap. The right-hand vertical strip of the note presents four smaller portrait vignettes stacked in a column, depicting what appear to be further prominent figures associated with the bank’s history, rendered in fine screen printing with a warm tonal range. The Arabic inscription at the upper centre reads “بنك المغرب” (Bank Al-Maghrib), with the denomination “خمسون درهما” (Fifty Dirhams) written below in flowing Arabic script. The numeral “50” appears prominently in the upper right corner as well as in large format on the lower left. A decorative royal crown motif is positioned in the upper left corner, rendered in gold and red tones. The upper right section features a colour-shifting security element bearing the “50” numeral, which shifts between green and gold when tilted. Fine guilloché rosette patterns are visible in the background, providing an intricate anti-counterfeiting mesh beneath the portrait area. A vertical security thread is embedded within the paper, visible as a dark stripe running through the note. The serial number, printed in green, reads “01س060329” and appears in the lower right area alongside two small circles. Arabic text to the upper right reads “الذكرى الخمسون لبنك المغرب,” meaning “The Fiftieth Anniversary of Bank Al-Maghrib,” directly referencing the commemorative purpose of the issue.

The reverse presents a bold architectural vignette at its centre depicting the headquarters building of Bank Al-Maghrib in Rabat — a distinctive circular structure with an arched central entrance, flanking wings, and ornamental Moroccan detailing across its façade. The building is rendered in a warm reddish-brown tone with fine linear engraving, set against a pale cream background with light green guilloché patterning. The text “BANK AL-MAGHRIB” is printed prominently at the top in dark lettering, with “50 DIRHAMS” appearing below in bold red. The date range “1959–2009” is inscribed beneath the building vignette, marking the fifty-year span being commemorated. To the right of the central image, a large decorative panel features intricate geometric and floral patterns in red, green, and gold, with the text “50ème anniversaire de Bank Al-Maghrib” — the fiftieth anniversary inscription in French — printed alongside. A large numeral “50” in red appears in the lower right corner. Two signature lines are printed at the upper left, with Arabic titles indicating the Governor (“الوالي”) and the Government Commissioner (“مندوب الحكومة”). A further block of Arabic text runs along the lower left margin, constituting a standard legal tender declaration. The embedded security thread is again visible as a vertical feature running through the paper, and the overall colour palette of the reverse blends soft greens, warm ochres, and terracotta reds in a harmonious composition suited to the commemorative character of the note.

Looking to exchange leftover currency? Your 2009 commemorative 50 Dirhams banknote can be sold to Webuyallcurrency.com alongside other current Moroccan Dirhams banknotes, turning spare money from a trip or collection into cash in one simple transaction.

• Indicate the quantity of 50 Dirhams Moroccan Dirham banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

If you have leftover currency to exchange, Webuyallcurrency.com accepts Moroccan Dirhams banknotes and a wide range of other foreign coins and notes, paying out for the lot in a single straightforward transaction.