EGP – Egyptian Pound
Monetary System
1 Egyptian pound (EGP) = 100 piastres
2022 Polymer Issues
This 10-pound note is the first Egyptian polymer note. It was designed by De La Rue and printed at the bank’s new press in the New Administrative Capital. Preceding paper issues continue to circulate in parallel with the polymer notes.
Description: 10.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 132 x 69 mm
Violet, brown, red, and yellow. Front: Arabic text; stylized reed as registration device; exterior of Al-Fattah Al-Alim mosque in New Administrative Capital; Eye of Horus as registration device. Back: English text; winged sun disc with snakes; pyramid; boat; statue of Hatshepsut; stylized reed; pyramids. No security thread. Watermark: None. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 132 x 69 mm. Polymer (SafeGuard).
Description: 20.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 132 x 69 mm
2014 – 2020 Issues
These notes are like the preceding issues, but with enhanced security features.
Description: 5.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 145 x 70 mm
Slate blue, green, yellow, and orange. Front: Arabic text; Ahmad Ibn Tūlūn mosque in Cairo; Eye of Horus as registration device. Back: English text; Eye of Horus; bas relief scenes of agriculture, Nile god holding offering table with lotus and papyrus flowers, and fishing, from Ptolemaic temple. Solid security thread with demetalized denomination in Arabic. 4-mm wide windowed thread with demetalized 5, Five Pounds in Arabic, and coat of arms. Watermark: King Tuthmosis and electrotype 5. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 145 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 10.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 150 x 70 mm
Violet, brown, red, and yellow. Front: Arabic text; exterior of Al-Rifa’i mosque in Cairo; Eye of Horus as registration device. Back: English text; diorite statue of King Chephren (Khafre) with God Horus (hawk); Eye of Horus. Solid security thread with demetalized denomination in Arabic. 4-mm wide windowed thread at right center, with demetalized 10, Ten Pounds in Arabic, and coat of arms. Watermark: King Khafre and electrotype 10. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 150 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 20.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 155 x 70 mm
Green, purple, pink, and brown. Front: Arabic text; Muhammad Ali Pasha mosque (aka Alabaster mosque) in Cairo; Eye of Horus as registration device. Back: English text; Ramesses II with bow and arrow in war chariot; bas relief carvings from Chapel of Sesostris I at Karnak temple, showing coronation of a pharaoh, inauguration of temple building, and pharaoh with offering table; stylized papyrus flowers; Eye of Horus. 1.5-mm wide solid security thread with demetalized denomination in Arabic. 4-mm wide windowed thread at left, with demetalized 20, Twenty Pounds in Arabic, and coat of arms. Watermark: Princess Nofret and electrotype 20. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 155 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 50.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 160 x 70 mm
Black, brown, blue, and purple. Front: Arabic text; Eye of Horus as registration device; Amir Qijmas al Ishaqi mosque in Cairo. Back: English text; pharaonic boat; winged sun disc with snakes; tops of architectural columns at Edfu Temple; winged scarab pushing sun disc; Eye of Horus. 4-mm wide windowed thread at right center, with demetalized 50,Fifty Pounds in Arabic, and coat of arms. Watermark: King Akhenaten and electrotype 50. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 160 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 100.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 165 x 70 mm
Green, orange, purple, and brown. Front: Arabic text; Eye of Horus as registration device; denomination in SPARK; Sultan Hassan mosque in Cairo. Back: English text; Great Sphinx of Giza; hieroglyphics of Kemet (black soil), ancient name of Egypt; Eye of Horus. Motion windowed security thread. 1.5-mm wide solid security thread with demetalized,100 Pounds in Arabic. Watermark: Sphinx and electrotype 100. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 165 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 200.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 165 x 73 mm
Purple, green, and brown. Front: Arabic text; denomination in SPARK; denomination as registration device; Qani Bay mosque in Cairo. Back: English text; statue of the Seated Scribe; cartouche with “Egypt is Peace” in hieroglyphics. Motion windowed security thread. 1.5-mm wide solid security thread with demetalized 200 Pounds in Arabic. Watermark: Egyptian Scribe and electrotype 200. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 165 x 73 mm. Paper.
2000 – 2016 Issues
These notes include Omron rings and windowed security threads.
Description: 5.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 145 x 70 mm
Slate blue, green, yellow, and orange. Front: Arabic text; Ahmad Ibn Tūlūn mosque in Cairo; Eye of Horus as registration device. Back: English text; Eye of Horus; bas relief scenes of agriculture, Nile god holding offering table with lotus and papyrus flowers, and fishing, from Ptolemaic temple. Security thread varieties. Watermark: Varieties. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 145 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 10.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 150 x 70 mm
Violet, brown, red, and yellow. Front: Arabic text; exterior of Al-Rifa’i mosque in Cairo; Eye of Horus as registration device. Back: English text; diorite statue of King Chephren (Khafre) with God Horus (hawk); Eye of Horus. Security thread varieties. Watermark: Varieties. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 150 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 20.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 155 x 70 mm
Green, purple, pink, and brown. Front: Arabic text; Muhammad Ali Pasha mosque (aka Alabaster mosque) in Cairo; Eye of Horus as registration device. Back: English text; Ramesses II with bow and arrow in war chariot; bas relief carvings from Chapel of Sesostris I at Karnak temple, showing coronation of a pharaoh, inauguration of temple building, and pharaoh with offering table; stylized papyrus flowers; Eye of Horus. Security thread varieties. Watermark: Varieties. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 155 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 50.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 160 x 70 mm
Black, brown, blue, and purple. Front: Arabic text; Eye of Horus as registration device; Amir Qijmas al Ishaqi mosque in Cairo. Back: English text; pharaonic boat; winged sun disc with snakes; tops of architectural columns at Edfu Temple; winged scarab pushing sun disc; Eye of Horus. Security thread varieties. Watermark: Varieties. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 160 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 100.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 165 x 70 mm
Green, orange, purple, and brown. Front: Arabic text; Eye of Horus as registration device; Sultan Hassan mosque in Cairo. Back: English text; Great Sphinx of Giza; hieroglyphics of Kemet (black soil), ancient name of Egypt; Eye of Horus. Security thread varieties. Watermark: Varieties. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 165 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 200.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 175 x 80 mm
Purple, green, and brown. Front: Arabic text; denomination as registration device; Qani Bay mosque in Cairo. Back: English text; statue of the Seated Scribe; cartouche with “Egypt is Peace” in hieroglyphics. 3-mm wide windowed thread with demetalized 200 and TWO HUNDRED POUNDS in Arabic. 1.5-mm wide solid security thread with demetalized 200 POUNDS in Arabic. Watermark: Egyptian Scribe and electrotype 200. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 175 x 80 mm. Paper.
Description: 200.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 165 x 73 mm
Purple, green, and brown. Front: Arabic text; denomination as registration device; Qani Bay mosque in Cairo. Back: English text; statue of the Seated Scribe; cartouche with “Egypt is Peace” in hieroglyphics. 3-mm wide windowed thread with demetalized 200 and TWO HUNDRED POUNDS in Arabic. 1.5-mm wide solid security thread with demetalized 200 POUNDS in Arabic. Watermark: Egyptian Scribe and electrotype 200. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 165 x 73 mm. Paper.
Like the preceding issues, but reduced in size, and horizontal lines added at front edges.
1989 – 2001 Issues
Description: 5.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 145 x 70 mm
Slate blue, green, yellow, and orange. Front: Arabic text; Ahmad Ibn Tūlūn mosque in Cairo. Back: English text; bas relief scenes of agriculture, Nile god holding offering table with lotus and papyrus flowers, and fishing, from Ptolemaic temple; hieroglyphics and stylized sun. Watermark: Mask of King Tut-Ankh-Amon. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 145 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 50.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 160 x 70 mm
Black, brown, blue, and purple. Front: Arabic text; Amir Qijmas al Ishaqi mosque in Cairo. Back: English text; pharaonic boat; winged sun disc with snakes; tops of architectural columns at Edfu Temple; winged scarab pushing sun disc. Watermark: Mask of King Tut-Ankh-Amon. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 160 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 100.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 165 x 70 mm
Green, orange, maroon, and brown. Front: Arabic text; Sultan Hassan mosque in Cairo. Back: English text; Great Sphinx of Giza; hieroglyphics of Kemet (black soil), ancient name of Egypt. Solid security thread with printed bank name in Arabic. Watermark: Mask of King Tut-Ankh-Amon. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 165 x 70 mm. Paper.
1980 – 1989 Issues
Description: 5.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 145 x 70 mm
Slate blue, green, yellow, and orange. Front: Arabic text; Ahmad Ibn Tūlūn mosque in Cairo. Back: English text; bas relief scenes of agriculture, Nile god holding offering table with lotus and papyrus flowers, and fishing, from Ptolemaic temple. Watermark: Mask of King Tut-Ankh-Amon. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 145 x 70 mm. Paper.
1978 – 2016 Issues
On earlier notes the denominations are always expressed in English as “Egyptian pounds,” but beginning with these notes the currency is referred to simply as “pound,” although sometimes the French abbreviation “LE” also appears.
These notes bear the dates in Arabic numerals, but there are two different date formats. On earlier notes, the first and last digits represent the last two digits of the year, while the middle four digits represent the day and month (YDDMMY). For example, the Arabic digits ٧٠٤٠٩٩ translate into 704099, which is represented in the variety listings as 04.09.1979. On later notes, the date format changes to YYYY/MM/DD. In the variety listings, the order is reversed and shown as DD.MM.YYYY for consistency’s sake.
Most denominations bearing Signature 11b have been observed with variations in the prefix font, suggesting different printing equipment. The more common prefix font is bold and compact, while the less common prefix font is thin and wide. These have not been assigned separate variety letters, but are mentioned so that specialist collectors are aware of their existence.
Description: 10.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 150 x 70 mm
Black, violet, purple, orange, and green. Front: Arabic text; interior of Al-Rifa’i mosque in Cairo. Back: English text; hieroglyphics of birds; diorite statue of King Chephren (Khafre) with God Horus (hawk); three pyramids of Giza. Watermark: Mask of King Tut-Ankh-Amon. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 150 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 20.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 155 x 70 mm
Green, purple, pink, and brown. Front: Arabic text; Muhammad Ali Pasha mosque (aka Alabaster mosque) in Cairo. Back: English text; Ramesses II with bow and arrow in war chariot; bas relief carvings from Chapel of Sesostris I at Karnak temple, showing coronation of a pharaoh, inauguration of temple building, and pharaoh with offering table; stylized papyrus flowers. Watermark: Mask of King Tut-Ankh-Amon. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 155 x 70 mm. Paper.
Description: 100.00 EGP – Egyptian Pound Size: 165 x 70 mm
Green, pink, orange, yellow, and blue. Front: Arabic text; Sayyeda Zeinab mosque in Cairo. Back (vertical): English text; mask of King Tut-Ankh-Amon; name of Tut-Ankh-Amon in cartouche; scene of Tut-Ankh-Amon hunting with bow and arrow, seated queen, fish, and birds. Solid security thread. Watermark: Mask of King Tut-Ankh-Amon. Printer: (Central Bank of Egypt). 165 x 70 mm. Paper.
More Information
• According to an article in AhramOnline dated 5 December 2018, the Central Bank of Egypt plans to introduce polymer banknotes by 2020 to ease cash movement, reduce printing costs, and improve the quality of notes.
• According to an article in EgyptToday dated 7 February 2020, the Central Bank of Egypt plans to start printing 10-pound notes on polymer in 2020 at its press in the New Administrative Capital.
