Coin of the Week: 1997 Jordan 1/2 Dinar

Obverse (Image: Leaf Design)

Reverse (Image: King Hussein bin Talal)

Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, has its roots in the ancient kingdoms of Nabatean, Edom, Ammon and Moab. The Nabatean Kingdom, with its capital Petra (considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World), highlights the important role the Kingdom of Jordan has played in world history. Modern Jordan was founded in 1921 as Transjordan, part of the British Mandate of Palestine created after World War I and the end of the Ottoman Empire. The country became an independent state in 1946.

Jordan's currency is the dinar, with 1 dinar equalling 100 qirsh (also called piastres). The word dinar may come from the Latin word denarius, which stood for a small silver coin used in the Roman currency system. All of Jordan's coins depict the King of Jordan on the obverse. In 1997, this was King Hussein. Today, his son King Abdullah rules the country. The reverse of this heptagonal 1/2 dinar states the denomination encircled by a leaf/arabic design. More information on coins from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan can be found here.