1/4 dinar 1968

Common. This is a regular issue from Kuwait's first currency series with substantial print runs typical of fractional denominations. eBay market data confirms common status: UNC examples sold for $30-$60 in 2013-2015, and more recent sales show VF specimens at $6.95-$17.55 (2018-2025). The 2019 catalog value of $30 UNC further supports common classification. PMG population records indicate multiple variants have been graded, suggesting adequate supply of this note in the collector market.

Issued under Law No. 32 of 1968, this banknote commemorates Kuwait's transition to independence (1961) and the establishment of the Central Bank of Kuwait. The imagery—the revered Emir Sabah on the obverse and the strategically important Port Shuwaykh on the reverse—reflects the nation's dual focus on political leadership and economic development through oil and maritime commerce. This first series represents a foundational moment in Kuwaiti numismatic history and national identity.

The obverse features a right-facing portrait of Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Salim al-Sabah, depicted in profile wearing the traditional white ghutra and black agal headdress, positioned at the right side of the note. The portrait serves also as the watermark. The design incorporates ornate Islamic geometric and floral patterns forming decorative borders in pink, green, and black against a cream background, with fine line cross-hatch security patterns visible throughout. The reverse presents an aerial architectural view of Port Shuwaykh (Port of Kuwait), the nation's primary commercial harbor, rendered in black, white, and gray tones with matching decorative border treatments. The overall aesthetic blends modern portraiture and infrastructure imagery with classical Islamic design elements, reflecting the nation's contemporary development aspirations.

Front side: 'بنك الكويت المركزي' (Central Bank of Kuwait), 'ربع دينار' (Quarter Dinar), 'ربطة نقد صادرة بموجب القانون رقم 32 لسنة 1968' (Banknote issued under Law No. 32 of 1968), 'شؤون المالية والبنك' (Ministry of Finance and Central Bank), serial number '1919146294'. Back side: 'Central Bank of Kuwait' (English), 'Quarter Dinar' (English), '1/4' (numeric denomination).

Intaglio (engraved) printing on banknote paper, evidenced by the fine line patterns, intricate border details, and sharp portrait rendering visible in both images. The multi-color design (cream/pink/green base with black and gray architectural rendering) suggests a multi-pass intaglio process. The precise geometric patterns and security features indicate professional security printing, likely produced by a specialist banknote printer such as Thomas De La Rue or a similar established security printer of that era, though the specific printer attribution for this issue is not definitively documented in standard references.

This example corresponds to Pick P-6a (Watermark: Emir Sabah). Known varieties for this base Pick number include P-6a, P-6ar (replacement note), P-6b, and P-6cts (specimen). The observed serial number '1919146294' and the absence of visible overprints or replacement markings indicate this is a standard P-6a issue note from the regular circulation printing.