15 January 2005

Manama (Bahrain): The Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA) is putting back into circulation the half-dinar (500 fils) currency note.

The note will circulate alongside a coin of the same denomination.

"The BMA carried out a study and found that there is popular demand for the note, so it is being returned to circulation," said Mr. Farid Zubari, Director, Currency Issue, at the BMA.

The BMA had discontinued the note's release into the banking system when the half-dinar coin was introduced in January 2000. The currency note, however, remained a legal tender.

"There are no changes to the note. The same note, which was in circulation previously, is now being returned for use," said Mr. Zubari.

The note, which is mainly brown in colour, was first issued by the BMA in 1993. The facing side of the note depicts a traditional craft (weaving), as well as the Kingdom of Bahrain crest and the denomination in digits.

The reverse side depicts Alba and the words 'Bahrain Monetary Agency', as well as the denomination in digits and words.

-Ends-

© Press Release 2005