Saudi 1/4 Riyal
Saudi Arabia
1935–1945
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$1.90
Based on Silver spot price ($78.96/oz) · 50.0% purity · 1.5g
Updated 10:08 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
| Years Minted | 1935–1945 |
| Composition | 50% silver |
| Weight | 1.5 g |
| Diameter | 16 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
Features the Saudi Arabian coat of arms and Arabic inscriptions including the king's name.
Reverse
Displays the denomination '1/4 Riyal' in Arabic and the date.
History & Notable Facts
The Saudi 1/4 Riyal coin features both the Hijri and Gregorian dates on its reverse, a practical nod to the kingdom's dual calendar system during its early modern era.
This fractional silver piece, struck between 1935 and 1945, was part of Saudi Arabia's first national currency series. Weighing about 1.5 grams and containing roughly 50% silver, it circulated alongside larger denominations to facilitate everyday transactions in a newly unified nation. Mintage figures vary by year, but records from the 1940s are spotty, with some lost in bureaucratic shifts.
The design, simple and Islamic-influenced, shows a palm tree and crossed swords on the obverse—symbols of the Saudi state. Early strikes might have used recycled silver from older regional coins, though that's unconfirmed.
Handling these, you notice the edges wear quickly from use in harsh desert conditions. Never mind the tales of hidden treasures; most ended up as pocket change.
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