The 500 dinars of 1998 takes us back to antiquity: on the front Hannibal’s army on war elephants clashes with Roman legionaries. For Algeria this is part of its own ancient history, as its lands belonged to the world of Carthage and Numidia.

The back shows a tomb associated with the Numidian king Massinissa and hot waterfalls. The elephant theme continues in the watermark of repeated elephant heads. This type differs from the 1992 note with the same design by a 13 mm holographic stripe.

The war elephants make the note a welcome piece in an «elephants on banknotes» set and an ancient-history theme, while in an Algeria collection it shows how the 1992 type gained a hologram. UNC condition means the note has never circulated: no folds, no wear, no soiling, even corners — just as it left the press.

Other paper money items from the same country or on the same theme are in the VPcoins catalogue.