The five hundred afghanis with dates from 1358 to 1370 in the Solar Hijri calendar (1979–1991) spans the whole era of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. This is the series on which Da Afghanistan Bank, in its own words, placed its emblem for the first time: the seal with horsemen, a cornucopia and ancient coins sits at the centre of the front.

To the right of the seal, horsemen gallop in a game of buzkashi, the traditional Afghan equestrian contest, while the back shows the Bala Hissar, the «High Fortress» of Kabul. The design repeats the 1358 five hundred (P59), but this is a separate type, printed until 1370.

Over twelve years the note was signed by different pairs of governor and finance minister, from Juwaini and Wakil at the start to Sediq and Hakim in 1370, and collectors assemble it as a separate run by signatures and dates.

For an Afghanistan collection this is a core piece of the 1358–1370 series, and for a sports theme it offers a scene of buzkashi, the national equestrian game. UNC condition means the note has never circulated: no folds, no wear, no soiling, even corners — just as it left the press.

If this banknote has caught your interest, the VPcoins catalogue has other issues from the same issuer worth seeing.