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Syrian pound

الليرة السورية (Arabic)
bundles of Syrian banknotes
ISO 4217
Code	SYP (numeric: 760)
Subunit	0.01
Symbol	None official. The abbreviations LS, SP, or ل.س are used.
Denominations
Subunit
1⁄100	piastre (p)
Banknotes	LS 50, LS 100, LS 200, LS 500, LS 1,000, LS 2,000, LS 5,000
Coins	LS 5, LS 10, LS 25, LS 50
Demographics
User(s)	Syria
Issuance
Central bank	Central Bank of Syria
Website	cb.gov.sy
Valuation
Inflation	28.1%
Source	The World Factbook, 2017 est.
Value	US$1 = LS 12,562 (official, pre-2024 revolution)

The Syrian pound or lira (Arabic: الليرة السورية, romanized: al-līra as-sūriyya; abbreviation: LS or SP in Latin, ل.س in Arabic, historically also £S, and £Syr; ISO code: SYP) is the currency of Syria. It is issued by the Central Bank of Syria. The pound is nominally divided into 100 piastres (قرش qirsh, plural قروش qurūsh in Arabic, abbreviated to p.), although piastre coins are no longer issued.

Before 1947, the Arabic inscription of the word "qirsh" was spelled with the initial Arabic letter غ, after which the word began with ق. Until 1958, banknotes were issued with Arabic on the obverse and French on the reverse. Since 1958, English has been used on the reverses, hence the three different names for this currency. Coins used both Arabic and French until independence, then only Arabic.

History

French mandate

During the period when Syria was a part of the Ottoman Empire, which lasted about 400 years, the Ottoman pound was its main currency. Following the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the placing of Syria under a mandate (French occupation), the Egyptian pound was used in the territories under French and British mandates, including Lebanon, Transjordan and Palestine. Upon taking Lebanon and Syria under its separate mandate, the French government sought to replace the Egyptian currency and granted a commercial bank, the Banque de Syrie (a French affiliate of the Ottoman Bank), the authority to issue a currency for territories under its new mandate.

The pound (or livre in French) was introduced in 1919 and was set at a value of 20 francs. As the political status of Lebanon evolved, the Banque de Syrie, which was to act as the official bank for Lebanon and Syria, was renamed the Banque de Syrie et du Grand-Liban (BSL). BSL issued the Syro-Lebanese pound for 15 years, starting in 1924. Two years before the expiration of the 15-year period, BSL split the Lebanese-Syrian currency into two separate currencies that could still be used interchangeably in either state. In 1939, the bank was renamed the Banque de Syrie et du Liban.

In 1941, the peg to the French franc was replaced by a peg to sterling of LS 8.83125 = £1, as a consequence of the occupation of Syria by British and Free French forces. This rate was based on the pre-war conversion rate between the franc and sterling. In 1946, following devaluation of the franc, the pound was pegged once again to the franc at a rate of LS 1 = 54.35 F. In 1947, Syria joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and pegged its currency to the U.S. dollar at LS 2.19148 = US$1, a rate which was maintained until 1961.

Independence

The Lebanese and Syrian currencies split in 1948. From 1961, a series of official exchange rates were in operation, alongside a parallel, black market rate which reflected the true market rate for Syrian pounds in Jordan and Lebanon where there was a healthy trade in the Syrian currency. The market was allowed to flourish because everybody, including government and public sector companies, needed it. The black market rate diverged dramatically from the official rate in the 1980s. In July 2007, the currency was pegged to the IMF SDR (Special Drawing Rights).

Syrian Civil War

There was a capital flight to nearby countries, including Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey, as a result of the Syrian Civil War that started in 2011. In addition, Syria has been subject to sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union and other countries, which shut Syria out of the global financial system. To circumvent the sanctions, Syrians effected foreign transactions through banks in neighbouring countries, especially Lebanon. As a result, the official exchange rate has deteriorated significantly, falling from LS 47 = US$1 in March 2011 to LS 515 = US$1 in July 2017 and 7500 = US$1 in April 2023 (after the Lebanese liquidity crisis)

On 31 October 2019, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad mentioned in an interview that liberating territories had complex economic consequences. While it removed foreign-funded support for terrorists, it also cut off dollar inflows that stabilize local economies:

One factor which people are not aware of, is that the liberation of an area does not necessarily serve the Syrian pound, because by liberating an area, we are removing its access to dollars which were paid to the terrorists to cover their needs and expenses. This is one of the tools we benefited from. I mean that things are not absolute, and we cannot say that terrorists were serving us in this regard. Not every positive step has a positive impact. That is why I am saying that the issue is complicated.

— Bashar Al-Assad

Exchange rate

On 5 December 2005, the selling rate quoted by the Commercial Bank of Syria was LS 48.4 = US$1. A rate of about LS 50 to US$1 was usual in the early 2000s, but the rate is subject to fluctuations. Since the start of the civil war in 2011, the pound's unofficial exchange rate has deteriorated significantly. It was LS 47 = US$1 in March 2011 and LS 515 in July 2017. Since July 2007, the Syrian pound has been pegged to the IMF SDR (Special Drawing Rights).

On 29 November 2019, following the Lebanese protests, the black market rate was LS 765 = US$1, a decrease of 30% since the turmoil started in Lebanon a month earlier, as the protests led Lebanese banks to impose tight controls on hard currency withdrawals and transfers abroad, making it hard for Syrians to access funds held by them in those banks.

The black-market rate fell to LS 950 on 2 December 2019, another 25% decrease, while the official rate set by the central bank was LS 434 = US$1.

On 13 January 2020, the currency deteriorated further, as more than LS 1,000 was traded for US$1 in the black market, despite being valued at LS 434 = US$1 by the Syrian Central Bank. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Syria, the Syrian pound continued to fall against the U.S. dollar in the black market, where US$1 equaled more than LS 1,600 in May 2020. A month later, the Syrian pound passed LS 2,000 against the dollar, and a few days later, it passed LS 3,000 against the dollar.

Upon the implementation of the U.S. sanctions related to the Caesar Act, anti-government local authorities in Idlib Governorate adopted the Turkish lira in place of the plummeting Syrian pound. Turkish lira has also replaced Syrian pound in other Turkish occupied areas of northern Syria, such as Afrin and Jarablus.

On 31 December 2022, the Syrian pound hit a new record low again on the black market, where each US$1 cost LS 7,150, twice as much as a year before. In 2023, the exchange rate continued deterioration, reaching LS 15,000 per US$1.

During the 2024 Syrian opposition offensives, the exchange rate fell to a record low of LS 25,000 per US$1. After the fall of the Assad regime, the currency was traded between LS 12,500 and 10,000 per US$1.

Coins

In 1921, cupro-nickel 1⁄2 piastre coins were introduced, followed in 1926 by aluminium bronze 2p and 5p. In 1929, holed, nickel-brass 1pt and silver 10p, 25p and 50p were introduced. Nickel-brass 1⁄2pt coins were introduced 1935, followed by zinc 1pt and aluminium-bronze 2+1⁄2pt in 1940. During the Second World War, brass 1pt and aluminium 2+1⁄2p emergency coins were issued. These pieces were crudely produced and undated.

A new coinage was introduced between 1947 and 1948 in denominations of 2+1⁄2p, 5p, 10p, 25p, 50p and LS 1, with the 2+1⁄2p, 5p and 10p struck in cupro-nickel and the others in silver. Aluminium-bronze replaced cupro-nickel in 1960, with nickel replacing silver in 1968. In 1996, following high inflation, new coins were introduced in denominations of LS 1, LS 2, LS 5, LS 10 and LS 25, with the LS 25 being bimetallic. In 2003, LS 5, LS 10, and LS 25 coins were issued, with latent images. On December 26, 2018, the Central Bank of Syria introduced a LS 50 coin for general circulation to replace the banknote of that denomination. Due to high inflation, only 50 pound coin is in circulation. All other coins are worthless by Dec 2022.

Banknotes

In 1919, the Banque de Syrie introduced notes for 5p, 25p and 50p, LS 1 and LS 5. These were followed, in 1920, by notes for LS 1, LS 10, LS 25, LS 50 and LS 100. In 1925, the Banque de Syrie et du Grand-Liban began issuing notes and production of denominations below 25p ceased. Notes below LS 1 were not issued from 1930. In 1939, the issuing body again changed its name, to the Banque de Syrie et du Liban.

Between 1942 and 1944, the government introduced notes for 5p, 10p, 25p and 50p. In the early 1950s, undated notes were issued by the Institut d'Emission de Syrie in denominations of LS 1, LS 5, LS 10, LS 25, LS 50 and LS 100, followed by notes dated 1955 for LS 10 and LS 25. The Banque Centrale de Syrie took over paper money issuance in 1957, issuing the same denominations as the Institut d'Emission.

In 1958, the French language was removed from banknotes and replaced by English. Notes were issued for LS 1, LS 5, LS 10, LS 25, LS 50, LS 100 and LS 500. In 1966, the design of the LS 25, LS 50, and LS 100 notes were changed. In 1976 and 1977, the designs changed for all the denominations except the LS 500 note.

In 1997 and 1998, a new series of notes was introduced in denominations of LS 50, LS 100, LS 200, LS 500 and LS 1,000, with the lower denominations replaced by coins. In 2009, the LS 50, LS 100, and LS 200 pound notes were changed with an entirely new design. On 2 July 2014, a new LS 500 note was introduced, followed by a LS 1,000 note on 30 July 2015, a LS 2,000 note on 2 July 2017, and a LS 5,000 note on 24 January 2021.

2009 series

On 27 July 2010, the Central Bank of Syria issued a new series of banknotes dated 2009 in denominations of LS 50, LS 100, and LS 200. The notes were designed by Austrian banknote designer Robert Kalina. The Central Bank of Syria issued new LS 500 and LS 1,000 notes in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The reverse of the new LS 1,000 note features an image of a Roman mosaic painting discovered in Deir al-Adas. President Bashar al-Assad was added to the LS 2,000 note in 2017. A LS 5,000 note was released in January 2021.

Pre-2024 revolution series of the Syrian pound

Image		Value	Dimensions (millimeters)	Main color	Description		Year of first issue
Obverse	Reverse				Obverse	Reverse
		£50	134 × 64	Gray	A rectangular Ugarit tablet of first Abjad, and a circular Ebla tablet	Al-Assad National Library and a statue of Hafez Al-Assad	2009
		£100	138 x 64	Red	Basalt stone gate and Bosra amphitheater	The dome of the Treasury of the Umayyad Mosque, Central Bank of Syria, ancient coin of Philip the Arab	2009
		£200	144 x 64	Orange	Norias of Hama	Ceiling of Temple of Bel (Palmyra)	2009
		£500	149 x 64	Blue	Damascus Opera House	"Mosaic of the Musicians" from a Byzantine villa in Maryamin. The clay tablet depicts the Hurrian songs	2013
		£1000	155 x 64	Green	Bosra amphitheater	Roman mosaic of a grape harvest in Deir al-Adas	2013
		£2000	158 x 64	Purple	President Bashar al-Assad and the Umayyad Mosque	Syrian Parliament	2015
		£5000	157 x 64	Brown	Syrian soldier statue and the Syrian flag	Eagle and Yarhibol resco from the Temple of Baalshamin (Palmyra)	2019

See also

• Economy of Syria
• Lebanese pound

References

1. "Official exchange rate" (PDF).
2. "World Bank Editorial Style Guide 2020 - page 138" (PDF). openknowledge.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
3. The Central Bank of Syria uses this abbreviation on the security strips of banknotes. https://en.numista.com/catalogue/note268783.html
4. "Syria". CIA World Factbook 1990 - page 303. 1 April 1990. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
5. The Statesman's Yearbook 1990-1991 - page 1177. Springer. 1991. ISBN 9780230271197. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
6. ^ "Syria (barely) survived a civil war. Can it weather the latest financial crisis?". Los Angeles Times. 29 November 2019.
7. Syria: The businessman can't play his hand Euromoney May 1986.
8. ^ "Syria ends pound's peg to U.S. dollar". The Globe and Mail. 5 June 2007.
9. ^ "Lebanon crisis wreaks havoc on Syria's war-torn economy". Reuters. 29 November 2019.
10. أرشيف أسعار العملات الأجنبية عام 2011 (XLS) (in Arabic). Central Bank of Syria. 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
11. "President al-Assad's interview given to al-Sourya and al-Ikhbarya TVs". Syrian Arab News Agency. 31 October 2019.
12. "Syrian pound hits record low in panic selling, dealers say". Reuters. 2 December 2019.
13. "Syrian Pound Hits Record Low of 1,000 against the Dollar". Asharq Al-Awsat. 13 January 2020.
14. "Syrian pound continues to devaluate against USD". Xinhuanet. 17 May 2020. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020.
15. "Syrian pound passes 2000 against dollar as new policies fail to stop freefall". Syria direct. 3 June 2020.
16. "Syrian pound hits record low against dollar in panic trading, dealers say". Reuters. 4 June 2020. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
17. "Syrian pound hits record low ahead of new U.S. sanctions: dealers". Reuters. 9 June 2020.
18. "Syria's Idlib adopts Turkish lira in place of plummeting pound". France 24. 15 June 2020.
19. Ashawi, Khalil (2018-08-28). "Falling lira hits Syrian enclave backed by Turkey". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
20. al-Issa, Jana (2023-01-06). "Syrian pound declined 100% in 2022". Enab Baladi. Archived from the original on 2023-01-15. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
21. "Dollar Approaching 15,000 Syrian Pounds". The Syrian Observer. 16 August 2023.
22. "Syrian pound rebounds against dollar". Enab Baladi. 13 December 2024.
23. "Syrian currency firms against US dollar after Assad's fall". Reuters. 14 December 2024.
24. due to fast depreciation, LS 5, and LS 10 coins and 25 pounds coin are practically worthless as of December 2021.50 Liras l(). Retrieved on 2020-05-20.
25. Linzmayer, Owen (2013). "Syria". The Banknote Book. San Francisco, CA: www.BanknoteNews.com.
26. "Syria floats new bank note amid soaring inflation". The Age. 25 January 2021.
27. Frank Stocker (21 November 2014). "Dieses Land hilft Syrien beim Gelddrucken aus". Die Welt. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
28. "Updated-CBS puts into circulation new SYP 1,000 banknotes to replace worn-out currency". Syrian Arab News Agency. June 30, 2015.

Notes

• Krause, Chester L.; Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801–1991 (18th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0873411501.
• Pick, Albert (1994). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: General Issues. Colin R. Bruce II and Neil Shafer (editors) (7th ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-207-9.

External links

• Historical banknotes of Syria (in English, German, and French)
• Syrian Pound Today

• Asia
• Money
• Numismatics

• Currencies with ISO 4217 code
• Currencies introduced in 1919
• Currencies of Syria
• Currencies of Asia
• Circulating currencies
• Pound (currency)