Banknotes
After the independence of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1946, the idea of issuing a national Jordanian currency emerged.
Before that, the Palestinian Pound (which was issued by the Palestine Currency Board) was circulating in Palestine and Trans-Jordan Emirate.
Upon that, the Jordanian Currency Law No. (35) of 1949 was issued. Under this law, the Jordan Currency Board was formed to be the sole authority entitled to issue Jordanian currency in the Kingdom. The London-based entity consisted of a president and four members.
As of the first of July 1950, the Jordanian Dinar became the currency unit and the use of the Palestinian Pound ceased in the Kingdom as from 30 September 1950.
The Jordan Currency Board initially put its first issue into circulation in the denominations of JD (50, 10, 5, 1 and ½), the first four denominations bear on their obverse the Portrait of His Majesty Late King Abdullah while the obverse of the JD½ features Wadi Al-Arab irrigation project. Later, the Board put into circulation its second issue for three denominations of the same series (JD10, 5 and 1) bearing the portrait of His Majesty Late King Hussein.
In 1964, the Central Bank of Jordan was established, and since then the Central Bank of Jordan was entrusted as the sole authority to issue Jordanian banknotes and coins. The Central Bank of Jordan released into circulation on the 4th of August, 1965 its first series of Jordanian banknotes (First Issue Series) in the denominations of JD10, 5, 1, and ½, bearing the portrait of His Majesty Late King Hussein. On 5 June 1971, the cabinet has issued a decree nullifying the banknotes issued by Jordan Currency Board as from the 1st of November, 1971.
In 1974, the Central Bank of Jordan issued its second series of Jordanian banknotes (Second Issue Series) in a bid to replace the First Issue Series. The banknotes denominations of the Second Issue Series (10,5,1,1/2) bear on the obverse the portrait of His Majesty Late King Hussein, while the reverse features different historical, Islamic and modern sites. On the 3rd of June, 1978, and due to the increasing demand on Jordanian banknotes, the Central Bank of Jordan has put into circulation a new banknote in the denomination of JD20. On 25th of August, 1990 the Central Bank of Jordan re-issued the JD20 denomination banknote but with a different color (blue).
As of 1992, and in order to keep up with the latest developments in the banknote printing technologies, the Central Bank of Jordan issued a new family of Jordanian banknotes (Third Issue Series) which bear the portrait of His Majesty Late King Hussein. The notes were in the denominations of JD20, 10, 5, 1 and ½. The notes of this series were subsequently modified by adding the phrase “The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan” in Arabic on the obverse and in English on the reverse and the Issue was hence known as the Modified Third Issue.
On the 27th of January, 2000 the Central Bank of Jordan put into circulation a new banknote in the denomination of JD50, bearing the portrait of his majesty King Abdullah II. After that, and in order to cope with the newest technical developments in banknote printing, including the latest security features, the Central Bank of Jordan put into circulation a new series of banknotes (Fourth Issue Series) bearing the portraits of the Royal Hashemite Family. The first banknotes issued of this series were the JD5 and the JD10 which were released into circulation on the 22nd of December, 2002 with the portrait of His Majesty Late King Abdullah on the obverse of the first one and the portrait of His Majesty Late King Talal on the obverse of the second banknote. Shortly after that, on the 2nd of February, 2003 the JD20 and JD50 denominations were issued: the former bears the portrait of His Majesty Late King Hussein while the latter bears the portrait of His Majesty King Abdullah II. On the 30th of March, 2003 the JD1 denomination, which bears the portrait of His Majesty Late Sherif Hussein Bin Ali, was put into circulation.
In view of the passage of about twenty years since the lunch of the fourth issue of the Jordanian banknotes and the need to enhance the security features and technical specifications of them, and to improve the distinguishing marks of the denominations for the blind and visually impaired, the Central Bank of Jordan issued a new series of banknotes (Fifth Issue Series). The new issue includes the latest security features used in the banknote printing industry, in addition to improving the quality of banknotes and enhancing its lifetime duration in circulation. These denominations were put into circulation starting with the JD1 which was issued on the 26th of December, 2022 with the portrait of His Majesty Late Sherif Hussein Bin Ali, then the JD50 was put into circulation on 5th of February, 2023 with the portrait of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein on the obverse. The JD20 was issued after that on the 21st of March, 2023 with portrait of His Majesty Late King Al- Hussein Bin Talal on the obverse. On the 26th of July, 2023 the JD10 was introduced with portrait of His Majesty Late king Talal Bin Abdullah on the obverse. Finally, on the 16th of August, 2023 the JD5 was issued with portrait of His Majesty Late King Abdullah on the obverse.
Coins
The issuance of the first modern Jordanian coins dates back to the year 1949. Before that date, Palestinian coins were used.
The issuance of Jordanian coins began after the declaration of the independence of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1946 and formation of the Jordan Currency Board in 1949.
The first Jordanian coins were in the denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 Fils. On the obverse of the coins, the royal crown and the nominal value of the denomination of the coin (in Arabic) under it appear. While the reverse features the nominal value of the denomination of the coin (in English). Some denominations were subsequently re-minted in 1955 and 1965.
In 1968, a new series of Jordanian coins, which bear the portrait of His Majesty Late King Hussein, were minted in the denominations of 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 Fils.
In 1969, a new coin in the denomination of JD1/4 was put into circulation to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Another coin of the same denomination was re-issued in 1970. Later in 1977 a new JD1/4 coin was put into circulation to mark the Silver Jubilee of His Majesty Late King Hussein. These coins were re-minted in 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s.
In 1980, and in commemoration of 15 centuries of the Hejra of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) from Mecca to Madina, the Central Bank of Jordan has issued a seven lobed JD1/2 coin.
In 1992, a new series of coins consisting of the denominations (100, 50, 25, 10, 5) Fils were put into circulation alongside the previous issue of coins, with new technical specification and new metal composition. The new series bear on its obverse the portrait of His Majesty Late King Hussein.
In 1995, the Central Bank of Jordan has issued for the first time a new coin in the denomination of JD1. The seven lobed Nickel Brass coin was issued to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and in 1996, another JD1 seven lobed coin was issued and was followed by issuing seven lobed JD1/2 and JD1/4 of the same alloy, all bear on its obverse the portrait of His Majesty Late King Hussein.
In 1997, the Central Bank of Jordan issued a bi-color seven lobed JD1/2 which bears the portrait of His Majesty Late King Hussein. The following year, 15 million coins of a new round JD1 with new technical specifications were put into circulation. One million of the 15 million coins were minted to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Human Rights.
Upon the accession of His Majesty King Abdullah II Bin Al Hussein to the throne in 1999, the Central Bank of Jordan started working on issuing a new series of coins, bearing the Portrait of His Majesty King Abdullah II Bin Al Hussein on its obverse. The new series (which is similar in its design and alloy to the 1992 series) were released into circulation starting from 2000 in the denominations of 10 and 5 and One Qirsh. A new JD1/2 coin with the portrait of His Majesty King Abdullah II was put into circulation in the same year. In the same year, a bi-metallic JD1/2 coin was also put into circulation bearing the portrait of His Majesty King Abdullah II Bin Al Hussein on its obverse.
CommemorativeIssuesforsale@cbj.gov.jo