A seal of ancient Dilmun is the centrepiece of the front of this dinar, accompanied by a map of Bahrain and the state coat of arms. The back shows the building of the Bahrain Monetary Agency — the very institution that issued the note.

As on all the agency’s notes, the date on the note is 1973, although the type appeared in the third issue, launched in 1993. The 1998 version is distinguished by a wide security thread: on variety P19a it carries the microtext BMA, while P19b has no text.

The signature is that of Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, chairman of the agency. Ten years later note issuance passed to the Central Bank of Bahrain, and this series became history.

For a country collection this is a dinar from one of the last Monetary Agency series; for an «archaeology on banknotes» set it offers the Dilmun seal motif. UNC condition means the note has never circulated: no folds, no wear, no soiling, even corners — just as it left the press.

A banknote from the VPcoins catalogue is a gift that is interesting to examine and has a story worth telling.