Bahrain issues new note series

All of the new notes measure 154 x 74 mm and are presumably printed by De La Rue (based upon their inclusion of StarChrome security threads and an unique screen trap pattern on the back). All of the notes have the following security features: King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa as watermark with electrotype denomination, intaglio printing, windowed green-to-red StarChrome security thread with CBB repeating, gold iridescent stripe with denomination in Arabic and English, registration device, denomination as latent image, CENTRALBANKOFBAHRAIN microprinting, novel serial number fluoresces under UV light. Additionally, the 5-, 10-, and 20-dinar notes also include a hologram on the front.

In addition to the security features, the new banknotes also incorporate, for the first time, a feature to enable the visually-impaired to easily recognize the value of each note. The feature—which has erroneously been called braille by some media outlets—comprises a series of short, raised lines, which appear at the top right on the front face of the note. The BD1/2 has one line; BD1 has two lines and so on, up to BD20, with five lines.


1/2 dinar (US$1.30), ٢٠٠٦ (2006). Issued March 17, 2008. Orange and brown. Front: Old Bahrain Court. Back: Bahrain International Circuit (motorsport facility) in Sakhir. Windowed green-to-red StarChrome security thread with demetalized CBB. Watermark: King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa with electrotype HALF. Printer: (TDLR). 154 x 74 mm.


1 dinar (US$2.65), ٢٠٠٦ (2006). Issued March 17, 2008. Red. Front: Al Hedaya Al Khalifiya school building (Bahrain’s first school). Back: Sail monument in Manama City; five galloping Arabian horses. Windowed green-to-red StarChrome security thread with demetalized CBB. Watermark: King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa with electrotype ONE. Printer: (TDLR). 154 x 74 mm.


5 dinars (US$13.25), ٢٠٠٦ (2006). Issued March 17, 2008. Blue. Shaikh Isa House in Muharraq; Riffa Fort. Back: Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) smelter building; first oil well in Bahrain near Jebel Dukhan mountain. Windowed green-to-red StarChrome security thread with demetalized CBB. Watermark: King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa with electrotype FIVE. Printer: (TDLR). 154 x 74 mm.


10 dinars (US$26.50), ٢٠٠٦ (2006). Issued March 17, 2008. Green. King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa. Back: Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa Causeway bridge. Windowed green-to-red StarChrome security thread with demetalized CBB. Watermark: King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa as with electrotype TEN. Printer: (TDLR). 154 x 74 mm.


20 dinars (US$53.05), ٢٠٠٦ (2006). Issued March 17, 2008. Brown and light blue. Front: King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa. Back: Al Fateh Islamic Center in Juffair. Windowed green-to-red StarChrome security thread with demetalized CBB. Watermark: King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa with electrotype TWENTY. Printer: (TDLR). 154 x 74 mm.