1 Omani Rials Banknote (Type 1995)

1 Rial Rial Omani (Issued 1995)

Oman’s 1995 one rial banknote speaks directly to a nation proud of its maritime heritage, its cultural craftsmanship, and the modernising vision of its leadership under Sultan Qaboos bin Said. The imagery chosen for this note reflects a country that balanced deep-rooted tradition with deliberate, forward-looking development during the final decades of the twentieth century. The careful selection of architectural landmarks, traditional artefacts, and a commanding portrait communicates both national identity and institutional confidence. It is a note that tells a story of Oman as a civilisation as much as an economy.

On the front, the dominant figure is a finely engraved portrait of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the late ruler of Oman who reigned from 1970 until his passing in 2020, depicted in his characteristic kuma cap and white dishdasha with a formal bisht robe, rendered in detailed intaglio engraving with subtle grey and brown tonal gradations. To the left of the portrait, a central vignette depicts what appears to be a modern architectural complex, rendered in blue-green tones and suggesting one of Oman’s landmark civic or sporting developments from the period. Above this vignette, in the upper left, the national emblem of Oman — featuring crossed swords and a khanjar dagger — appears in a tonal grey panel. The issuing authority is printed in Arabic script as البنك المركزي العُماني (the Central Bank of Oman) across the upper centre, with the denomination stated in Arabic as ريال واحد beneath it. A legal tender clause in Arabic text runs below the bank name. The serial number ج/١ ٧٤٥٢٥٢٤ appears twice — once in the upper right in purple numerals and once in the lower left — providing dual reference for authentication. The numeral “1” appears in large, stylised form to the right, set against a finely hatched guilloché background in soft purple and green tones that extends across the right-hand portion of the note. A date inscription in both Hijri (١٤١٦ هـ) and Gregorian (1995 م) formats, along with the Arabic text سلطان عمان, appears at the lower centre beneath a printed facsimile signature. The border is composed of delicate repeating geometric patterns in purple and mauve, consistent with traditional Islamic decorative motifs. Four purple dots in a square formation are visible in the lower left, serving as a tactile feature for the visually impaired. The overall colour palette of the front combines warm beige paper stock with purple, blue-green, and grey tonal layers.

The reverse presents the text “CENTRAL BANK OF OMAN” prominently across the upper centre in dark purple serif capitals, with the denomination “One Rial” printed beneath in a contrasting orange-brown typeface, and the numeral “1” repeated in large purple print to the upper right. The central background vignette depicts the skeletal timber frame of a traditional Omani dhow under construction, rendered in pale blue-green line engraving, evoking Oman’s ancient seafaring and boat-building traditions. In the foreground, a richly detailed still-life arrangement of traditional Omani artefacts is depicted across the lower half of the note: a tall decorative glass or ceramic bottle with a slender neck, an ornate khanjar dagger with an elaborately carved hilt and scabbard, a string of decorative beads or jewellery, a pair of stacked traditional Omani incense burners or kohl containers rendered in orange-gold tones, and what appears to be a collection of bangles or bracelets. These objects are engraved with considerable precision, combining intaglio detail for depth and flat colour for clarity. The left edge features a vertical column of repeating oval and geometric patterns in purple, consistent with the decorative border treatment on the front. The date reference 1416 H/1995 G appears in small text at the lower right. The paper exhibits a light watermark area visible to the right of centre, consistent with the watermark zone used across this issue series. The overall reverse palette blends pale lavender, muted blue-green, and warm amber-gold, creating a visually cohesive composition that honours Oman’s material culture.

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• Indicate the quantity of 1 Rial Rial Omani banknotes you want to exchange
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Got a mix of old coins and banknotes? Webuyallcurrency.com will exchange your Omani Rials banknotes alongside other leftover and foreign currency, settling the whole lot in one straightforward transaction.

Other Omani Rials you can exchange: 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 5, 10, 20, 50.