The highest coin in this set, the 100 baisa of 1984 from the reign of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, already belongs to history: on 20 May 2020 Omani coins of 100 baisa and above lost their legal tender status.

Its obverse carries the emblem, a sheathed khanjar over crossed swords, with the legend «سلطنة عمان», «Sultanate of Oman», and a double date of 1404 AH and 1984. The reverse is dominated by the numeral «١٠٠» with the word «بيسة», alongside the name of the issuer, «البنك المركزي العماني», the Central Bank of Oman.

Alongside it comes the small change of 5, 10, 25 and 50 baisa, and the set’s second year, 2008, marks a notable shift in Omani coinage: that year the white 25 and 50 baisa moved from copper-nickel to nickel-plated steel and became magnetic.

One set thus brings together two moments of the Qaboos era almost a quarter of a century apart, along with a coin that has already left circulation. Uncirculated condition: the coins have never been in circulation, show no wear and retain their mint lustre, with only minor handling marks possible.

Collecting a date run? Look for the neighbouring years of this type in the VPcoins catalogue.