Bahrain and Bahraini Coins

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Sheik Isa Bin Salman on Obverse of 1986 Bahrain Silver Proof 5 Dinars

Rhim Gazelle on Reverse of 1986 Bahrain Silver Proof 5 Dinars

Early History
Bahrain was for a long time a province of the Persian Empire, and was still claimed as such as recently as the 20 Century. Bahrain converted to Islam during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad during the 7 Century, having previously been a society of idol-worshippers. Between 899 and 1076, Bahrain was ruled by an extremist Islamic sect known as the Qarmartians, who used Bahrain as a base from which to raid and terrorise the mainstream Islamic population on the mainland, including, most notoriously, by robbing and massacring pilgrim caravans journeying to and from Mecca, which the Qarmartians sacked in 930 A.D. The Qarmartians were driven from Bahrain in 1076. In 1521, the Portugese seized the island and controlled it for the next 80 years, before they were expelled by the Safavid Persian Shah Abbis I in 1602. The Persian vassal governor Nasir Al-Madkhur was expelled from Bahrain in 1783 by the Bani Utibah tribe.

British Protectorate
During the late 18 and Early 19 Century, Bahrain was subject to raids, invasions and threats by the Omanis, Sauds and Egyptians (under the Ottoman Empire). In 1820, the ruling al Kahlifas signed a treaty with the British in order to protect themselves from further molestation by surrounding rulers. The Bahrainis tried twice to protect themselves from Egyptian and then British domination by declaring themselves Iranian subjects in order to gain their protection. However, Bahrain was forced to submit the British in 1861 as Iran was too weak to protect them. By 1892, Bahrain’s British protectorate status was solidified, but the al-Kahlifas were happy (or at least satisfied) to accept this status in return for British support to remain the rulers of Bahrain in times of unrest. In 1926, Charles Belgrave was appointed as an advisor to the Emir of Bahrain, and he set about introducing reforms in the Bahraini education system to bring it into line with British standards (to this day the Bahraini education model is similar to the old British one). Nevertheless, the British were never really popular in Bahrain and riots against them were frequent.

Independence
In 1957, Iran resurrected its ancient claim for Bahrain as an Iranian province. This was a potential source of conflict, and delayed Britain’s decolonisation of Bahrain. Eventually, a report was commissioned which reported in 1970 that the vast majority of Bahrainis wished for Bahrain to be an independent sovereign state. The following year, British forces departed. Bahrain elevated itself from an emirate to a kingdom in 2002.

Bahraini Coins

The currency of Bahrain is the Bahraini Dinar, divided into 1,000 Fils. This replaced the Gulf Rupee at 10 Rupees = 1 Dinar in 1965.
Upon their introduction in 1965, coins in bronze were struck for 1, 5 and 10 fils, and in cupronickel for 25, 50, 100 fils. The 1 fil coin was discontinued in 1966.
A currency reform in 1992 saw 5 and 10 fil coins struck in brass, along with new 25 and 50 fil cupronickel issues. In addition, a bimetallic 100 fil coin with a brass outer ring with a cupronickel centre was also issued that year.
In 2000, a 500 fil coin was introduced; this is, like the 100 fil coin, bimetallic, but with a cupronickel outer ring and a brass centre.

For Sale and Wanted
If you are interested in coins from Bahrain please see our product index:-
Bahraini Coins

Gold Coins
We also have gold coins from Bahrain on our taxfreegold website:-
Bahraini Gold Coins