According to a press release dated 18 February 2019, the Central Bank of Libya has introduced a new polymer 1-dinar note (B550a) to commemorate the 8th anniversary of the revolution. The note is printed by De La Rue on its Safeguard substrate.




Courtesy of Thomas Augustsson.

Tags: Libya, Polymer

B548: Like B544, but different security features, watermarks, and the serial number at right front is horizontal, not vertical, and neither serial number has ascending size digits.

Courtesy of Hartmut Fraunhoffer (Banknote-Online).

Tags: Libya

B549: Like B545, but different security features, watermarks, and the serial number at right front is horizontal, not vertical, and neither serial number has ascending size digits.

Courtesy of Nin Cheun (Noteshobby).

Tags: Libya

The latest reports out of Libya indicate that the Presidency Council of the United Nations-backed Government of National Accord has reversed its previous rejection of the new banknotes which were printed in Russia for the Thinni government in Beida. Although similar in design and size to the existing notes issued by the internationally-recognized Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli, the new notes have different security features, watermarks, and serial numbers.

The rival Central Banks in Tripoli and Beida will apparently jointly supervise the issue of new notes which will circulate throughout the country to alleviate the cash shortage. The new Russian-printed note are to be issued on 1 June 2016.

Tags: Libya

According to an article in The Libya Observer dated 25 May 2016, the eastern Central Bank of Libya (based in the city of Bayda, not the capital Tripoli) plans to introduce new 20- and 50-dinar notes on 1 June 2016. 4-billion dinars worth of new notes were reportedly printed in Russia (likely by Goznak) and bear the signature of Governor Ali Al-Hibri, the rival for Tripoli-based Governor Al-Siddig Al-Kabir. The new notes will reportedly circulate in parallel with the existing notes of the same denominations (B544 and B545, respectively). The designs of both are very similar, though there are slight changes to the security features, and the serial number at right front is horizontal, not vertical, and neither serial number has ascending size digits.

Courtesy of Alex Zlotin.

Tags: Libya

These images are reportedly of the dinar notes intended for the bank in eastern Libya.

According to an article in The Guardian dated 20 May 2016, there are reports that Libya's unity government may be undermined by the introduction of two different sets of new dinar notes from competing central banks: the UN-recognized Tripoli government led by Fayez Sarraj and the Tobruk-based parliament loyal to General Khalifa Haftar in the east. Apparently De La Rue has recently delivered new notes to the Tripoli bank, whereas Ali Salim al-Hibri, once recognized as the bank governor by the International Monetary Fund, claims to have printed dinars with the help of the Russian state (Goznak). While no images of either notes are yet available, "The two currencies would have different serial numbers, security details and watermarks, diplomats say."

Courtesy of Mark Irwin and Raphael Dvir.

Tags: Libya

According to a Libya Herald article dated 8 December 2015, on 13 December the Central Bank of Libya introduced the following new 5- and 10-dinar notes.







Curiously, these notes are different than those shown in the following photograph which appeared in photographs in various news sources in early 2013. All denominations except for the 5- and 10-dinar notes shown below were eventually issued that year. In October 2013, gunmen stole 55 million dinars worth of notes from a bank van. If the unissued notes were part of the loot, it's possible that the bank decided to change the designs to make the haul worthless.



Courtesy of Thomas Augustsson and Ahmed Elturki.

Tags: Libya

B542b: 10 dinars, 17-2-2011. Like B542a (top), but Arabic bank name at upper center front has shifted upwards, above Omar El Mukhtar's eyes (bottom).

Courtesy of Thomas Augustsson.

Tags: Libya

According to an article in Korea Times dated 24 June 2014, Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corp. (KOMSCO) has seen its production volume halved over the past five years, and hopes to utilize excess capacity by obtaining contracts to print banknotes for other countries. Countries for which KOMSCO has produced or is producing "currencies" (may include coins, not just banknotes) include China, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Libya, Peru, Switzerland, Thailand, and Vietnam. Last year KOMSCO won an order from Peru to produce 305 million 50-nuevo sole notes, with delivery to be completed by the end of June 2014.

Tags: South Korea, China, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Libya, Peru, Switzerland, Thailand, Vietnam

According to a Reuters article dated 29 October 2013, 10 gunmen intercepted a van carrying $55 million in cash when it left the airport in Sirte on its way to the local central bank branch. No word yet on the notes which were stolen, but in the past other nations have responded to large-scale robberies by issuing notes in new colors or designs to thwart the use of the ill-gotten gains.

Courtesy of Nikolajs Cerps.

Tags: Libya

B545 (PNL): 50 dinars (US$40)
Green. Front: Crescent moon and star on green SPARK patch; 1922 Italian lighthouse in Benghazi. Back: Rock arch in Tadrart Acacus. Holographic stripe. Solid security thread and windowed Motion security thread with crescent moon and star. Watermark: Omar El Mukhtar, electrotype 50, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 155 x 77 mm. No date. Signature 8a. Intro: 20.06.2013.

Courtesy of The Monetary Unit.

Tags: Libya

According to an article (English) in the Libya Herald dated 20 March 2013 and a press release (Arabic) from the Central Bank of Libya, the new 20-dinar (US$15.55) note was issued on 31 March 2013. The orange-colored note shows a school in Ghadames on the front and Al-Ateeq mosque in Oujlah on the back.

Courtesy of Antje Maroussi and Eyad Alai.

Tags: Libya

B543 (PNL): 1 dinar (US$0.80)
Purple, bue, red, and green. Front: Cheering crowd with flags. Back: Flag and doves. Holographic windowed security thread with demetalized 1, Arabic characters, and star and crescent. Solid security thread. Watermark: Omar El Mukhtar, electrotype 1, and Cornerstones. Printer: (TDLR). 130 x 65 mm.
a. No date. Signature 8a. Intro: 17.02.2013 (2nd anniversary of Libyan revolution).

Courtesy of Dennis Zammit.

Tags: Libya

According to an article in the Libya Herald, reportedly the Central Bank of Libya will issue new notes on 31 January 2013. The notes are denominated in 1, 5, 10, and 20 dinars. A 50-dinar note was considered but not issued "in a bid to control the black economy." No word yet on when existing notes will cease to be legal tender.

According to a subsequent article in the Libya Herald, the notes will be issued on 17 February, the second anniversary of the revolution, and will include the 50-dinar denomination after all.

Courtesy of Cedrian López Bosch Martineau and Antje Maroussi.

Tags: Libya

The Libya chapter of The Banknote Book is now available for individual sale and as a free download to subscribers.

This 32-page catalog covers notes issued by the Military Authority in Tripolitania, République Française, Kingdom of Libya, United Kingdom of Libya, National Bank of Libya, Bank of Libya, and Central Bank of Libya. Revised 30.10.2018.

Each chapter of The Banknote Book includes detailed descriptions and background information, full-color images, and accurate valuations. The Banknote Book also features:

• Sharp color images of note’s front and back without overlap
• Face value or date of demonetization if no longer legal tender
• Specific identification of all vignette elements
• Security features described in full
• Printer imprint reproduced exactly as on note
• Each date/signature variety assigned an individual letter
• Variety checkboxes for tracking your collection and want list
• Red stars highlight the many notes missing from the SCWPM
• Date reproduced exactly as on note
• Precise date of introduction noted when known
• Replacement note information
• Signature tables, often with names and terms of service
• Background information for historical and cultural context
• Details magnified to distinguish between note varieties
• Bibliographic sources listed for further research

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Tags: Libya

This video shows what appear to be new notes denominated in 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 dinars from the Central Bank of Libya. There is no indication as to who is showing off the new notes. According to a Bahrain News Agency post dated 29 November 2012, the notes are expected to be introduced at the end of January 2013.


1 dinar - Front: Unknown. Back: Flag of Libya and peace doves.


5 dinars - Front: Ottoman Clock Tower. Back: Zeus Temple in Cyrene.


10 dinars - Front: Portrait of Omar Al Mukhtar. Back: Al Mukhtar horsemen.


20 dinars - Front: Al Ateeq mosque in the city of Oujlah in the oasis. Back: Traditional school in Ghdamis.


50 dinars - Front: Italian Lighthouse of Sede Khrebeech. Back: Stone arch in Tadrart Acacus.



Courtesy of Cedrian López Bosch Martineau, Mosab K. Ibrahim, Carmine Turco, and Thomas Augustsson.

Tags: Libya

Apparently Libya is preparing a new 1-dinar (US$0.80) note without the portrait of Muammar Gaddafi, which appears on the current note CBL B35 (P71) issued in 2009.

Courtesy of Thomas Augustsson.

Tags: Libya

This post on Facebook includes images of Libya's new 5- and 10-dinar notes. Both denominations have been confirmed already, but curiously the images show two different varieties of the 10-dinar note. The upper one printed by De La Rue has prefix 7 and the bank's name on back is rendered with initial-capitals, whereas the lower one printed by Oberthur has prefix 1 and the bank's name in all-caps. The square security feature at upper right front is also different, as are the windowed security threads, and the Oberthur issue has a crecent moon and star at upper left front. Finally, the De La Rue issue is undated.

Courtesy of Thomas Augustsson and Claudio Marana.

Tags: Libya

5 dinars (US$4.05), no date. Like P72, but serial number prefix 7A, new signature (presumably Al-Seddiq Omar al-Kabir, but possibly Gasem Azzoz, and in any event, slightly different than that on the 10-dinar note dated 17-2-2011), English text replaces Arabic text on back, the removal of the reference to the Gadaffi era “Jamahiriya” from the front and upper right back, and Gadaffi-era falcon crest is removed from the monument to the Battle of Al-Hani.

Courtesy of Thomas Augustsson and Claudio Marana.

Tags: Libya

10 dinars (US$8), 17-2-2011. Like CBL B37 (P73), but new date, new signature (possibly Gasem Azzoz, new governor as of September 2011), new demetalization on windowed thread, new hologram on upper right front, and the removal of the reference to the Gadaffi era “Jamahiriya” from the front and upper right back, plus the use of English on the notes for the first time in two decades. Furthermore, the serial number prefix system has apparently been reset to 1.

The 10-dinar note features Oberthur’s new Jasper hologram, which combines a hologram with blind embossing in 3D, with at least two optical effects, as well as anti-photocopy and anti-scanner characteristics.

Courtesy of Eyad Alali and Thomas Augustsson.

Tags: Libya

According to an article on Arabstoday dated 29 November 2011, the Central Bank of Libya is set to introduce new 1-, 5-, and 10-dinar banknotes in early 2012.

Tags: Libya

According to an article on Trend.com dated 13 September 2011, banks in Libya are withdrawing 50-dinar (US$40.70) banknotes from circulation because they feature a large portrait of Muammar Gaddafi, who has recently been ousted from power but whose location remains uncertain. "The banks have agreed to collect the notes and to hand them over to the Central Bank," said Talal al Dhaguissi, an official in charge of a branch of Libya's National Commercial Bank in capital Tripoli, according to TAP. There’s no word on whether the Central Bank of Libya will destroy the withdrawn notes or overprint the portait and recirculate them eventually.

According to an article on Libya Business News dated 13 January 2012, citizens have until 15 March 2012 to turn in the old 50-dinar notes, and that the old 1- and 20-dinar notes, both of which also feature images of Gaddafi, will be gradually withdrawn.

Courtesy of Richard Miranda and Thomas Augustsson.

Tags: Libya

The United Nations has approved the release of 1.86 billion (US$1.5 billion) worth of Libyan dinar banknotes printed by De La Rue. The notes had been held in the UK under sanctions imposed on the Gaddafi regime, but will now be delivered to the Central Bank of Libya.

Courtesy of Thomas Augustsson.

Tags: England, Libya

There’s an interesting article on MailOnline about Britain’s successful ploys to prevent Gaddafi from taking possession of new Libyan banknotes worth 1.8 billion dinars. Although it is unnamed in the article, the printer of these notes is De La Rue.

Tags: Libya

This 20-dinar (US$16) note was introduced 3 March 2009.

Courtesy of Claudio Marana.

Tags: Libya

These notes, all issued 3 March 2009, are like the preceding issues of the same denominations (and are of the same physical sizes), but with reworked designs and enhanced security features. The 20-dinar note is said to have been officially introduced on the same date, but is not yet widely available in circulation as apparently the central bank has a good stock of the older style 20-dinar notes.


1 dinar (US$0.80)
Blue. Front: Muammar Qaddafi. Back: Mosque. Windowed security thread. Watermark: Muammar Qaddafi and electrotype 1. Printer: Unknown. 140 x 70 mm. No date. Signature Farhat O Bengdara. Introduced 03.03.2009.


5 dinars (US$3.90)
Red. Front: Two camels. Back: Monument. Windowed security thread. Watermark: Camels and electrotype 5. Printer: Unknown. 150 x 75 mm. No date. Signature Farhat O Bengdara. Introduced 03.03.2009.


10 dinars (US$7.80)
Green. Front: Omar el-Mukhtar. Back: Fortress and crowd. Windowed security thread with demetalized text. Watermark: Omar el-Mukhtar and electrotype 10. Printer: Unknown. 156 x 78 mm. No date. Signature Farhat O Bengdara. Introduced 03.03.2009.

If anyone can identify the precise names and locations of the structures on the backs, please share this information.

Courtesy of Abdullah Beydoun.

Tags: Libya

50 dinar (US$40.70)
Brown and tan. Front: Muammar al-Gaddafi. Back: Building. Holographic stripe. Windowed security thread. Watermark: Muammar al-Gaddafi.. Printer: Unknown. No date. Signature Farhat O. Bengdara. Introduced 25.09.2008.

Courtesy of Tuyet Nhung Le.

Tags: Libya