1 pound 1968

Common. eBay market data shows consistent sales across all grades from 2012-2023, with UNC specimens regularly selling in the $5-15 range. The 1967-1978 circulation period indicates substantial print runs. The catalog value for UNC is $5, and while some PMG-graded specimens have sold higher ($45+ for PMG 67), these represent premium grading premiums rather than inherent scarcity. This is a widely available note in the collector market.

Issued during the Nasser era (1967-1978 circulation period per catalog), this note reflects Egypt's post-1967 War political and cultural consolidation under Arab Republic governance. The dual imagery—the Sultan Qaitbay Mosque representing Islamic Cairo and the Abu Simbel temple statuary representing pharaonic Egypt—symbolizes the unified vision of Nasserist Egypt that synthesized ancient and Islamic civilizations as foundations of modern national identity.

The obverse features the Sultan Qaitbay Mosque (Qait Bey), a 15th-century Mamluk-era mosque located in the Citadel district of Cairo, depicted with its characteristic minaret and dome as the central focal point. Ornamental Islamic geometric and floral patterns frame the composition in light greens and creams. The reverse displays sculptural elements from Abu Simbel: on the left, pharaonic statues representing ancient Egyptian rulers; on the right, hieroglyphic wall carvings and temple reliefs. The design palette employs browns, beiges, grays, and light blues to evoke the archaeological aesthetic. Intricate fine-line work and geometric borders throughout serve both decorative and security purposes.

Front side: 'الجمهورية العربية المصرية' (Arab Republic of Egypt), '١٩٦٨' (1968), serial number reference '١/٠٩'. Back side: 'CENTRAL BANK OF EGYPT' and 'ONE EGYPTIAN POUND' in English, with Arabic numeral '١' (1) displayed in corners.

Multicolor intaglio engraving with fine line work and geometric security patterns, characteristic of high-security banknote production from the late 1960s. The detailed reproduction of the mosque's architectural features and the pharaonic sculptures' texturing indicate professional security printer capabilities, though the specific printer for this Egyptian Central Bank issue is not definitively documented in accessible sources.

This is catalogued as Pick 44a (regular issue variant). The PMG population report indicates a 44s variant also exists. The observed note appears to be the standard 44a based on the design characteristics. No distinctive signatures, overprints, or serial number prefixes indicative of rare varieties are noted in the visual analysis.