Coin
2 Dinars - Sabah III 15th National Day (1976) — Kuwait
Kuwait • 1976 • KM# 15a, Schön# 14a
Overview
A silver Proof 2 Dinars commemorative coin from Kuwait, minted in 1976. The obverse features the conjoined busts of the first and second Emirs with traditional headdresses. The reverse depicts a residential palace, an iron oil derrick, and a dhow ship. Minted at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant with a limited mintage of 50,000 pieces. Struck as Proof.
Specifications
- Country
- Kuwait
- Year
- 1976
- Composition
- Silver (.925)
- Weight
- 28.278 g
- Diameter
- 38.6 mm
- Mint
- Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom (1968-date)
- Shape
- Round
- Technique
- Milled
- References
- KM# 15a, Schön# 14a
- Issuer
- Kuwait
Design details
Obverse
Conjoined busts of the first & second Emirs with traditional gutra headdresses Scripts: Arabic, Latin Lettering: الذكرى الخامسة عشرة للعيد الوطني لدولة الكويت 15th Anniversary of the National Day of the State of Kuwait Engraver: Christopher Ironside
Reverse
Castle (Residential palace), tower (Iron Oil Derrick) and ship (Dhow) Scripts: Arabic, Latin Lettering: ديناران 2 DINARS ١٩٧٦ • ١٣٩٦ 1976 • 1396
Collector insights
- Design heritage: Christopher Ironside is credited as the designer for the Non-circulating coin series. Designer attribution helps distinguish this issue from later restrikes or unofficial copies that reuse only the motif.
- Struck at: Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom (1968-date). Confirm the mintmark on your example before comparing prices — same-year issues from different mints often trade at very different levels.
- Low mintage: Only 50,000 pieces reported. This puts the issue into key-date territory for its series; expect steep grade-based price scaling and a higher counterfeit risk — provenance and third-party grading matter.
- Precious metal content: Silver (.925) — bullion value provides a price floor, and many circulated examples were melted during the 1979–1980 and post-2010 silver spikes, reducing the surviving population.
- Catalogue reference: Listed as
KM# 15a, Schön# 14a. Use this reference code when cross-checking auction archives, dealer inventories, and standard printed catalogues.
Curator Insights
Historical context
This silver proof issue commemorates the 15th anniversary of Kuwait's independence from British protection, which occurred in 1961. Issued during the reign of Sheikh Sabah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah, the coin reflects the nation's rapid modernization and political stability in the mid-1970s. The 1976 date coincides with a period of significant regional development fueled by the expansion of the domestic petroleum industry.
Design heritage
Designed by Christopher Ironside, the obverse features conjoined busts of the first and second Emirs of Kuwait, symbolizing the transition of leadership and national continuity. The reverse displays a multi-faceted composition of a residential palace, an oil derrick, and a traditional dhow sailing vessel. These motifs represent the intersection of Kuwait's heritage in maritime trade and its contemporary identity as a global energy producer.
Varieties and technical notes
Struck at the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, this issue is characterized by its proof finish and reeded edge. Collectors should observe the 38.6mm surface for the consistent mirror-like fields and frosted relief typical of 1970s British technical production for the Middle East. While no major die varieties are documented for this commemorative, the strike quality and alignment should be inspected for consistent quality control.
Survival and modern availability
With a confirmed mintage of 50,000 pieces, the survival rate of this coin in its original packaging remains relatively high compared to circulation coinage of the era. Many specimens were preserved as cultural artifacts within the region or distributed globally to collectors of modern silver commemoratives. High-grade examples remain accessible, though many may exhibit natural toning typical of the .925 silver composition when stored in non-archival conditions.
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Explore more
Browse more items in the full catalog or view Kuwait in the country guide.