The riyal (

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...

: ريال ') was the currency of the

Kingdom of Hejaz The Hashemite Kingdom of Hejaz ( ar, المملكة الحجازية الهاشمية, ''Al-Mamlakah al-Ḥijāziyyah Al-Hāshimiyyah'') was a state in the Hejaz region in the Middle East that included the western portion of the Arabian Penins ...

between 1916 and 1925. It was subdivided into 20 qirsh ( ar, قرش). The riyal was a silver coin the same weight as the Ottoman 20

kuruş Kuruş ( ; ), also gurush, ersh, gersh, grush, grosha, and grosi, are all names for currency denominations in and around the territories formerly part of the Ottoman Empire. The variation in the name stems from the different languages it is us ...

coin but was minted in 1917 fineness rather than 1830 fineness. The Hejaz riyal was replaced by the

Saudi riyal The Saudi riyal ( ar, ريال سعودي ') is the currency of Saudi Arabia. It is abbreviated as or SAR ''(Saudi Arabian Riyal)''. It is subdivided into 100 halalas ( ar, هللة '). The currency is pegged to the US dollar at a constant rate ...

in 1925 at par.

Coins

In 1916, bronze coins were issued for ⅛, ¼, ½ and 1 qirsh together with silver 5, 10 and 20 qirsh. Gold 1 dinar coins were also minted. Turkish and Egyptian coins and

Maria Theresa thaler The Maria Theresa thaler (MTT) is a silver bullion coin and a type of Conventionsthaler that has been used in world trade continuously since it was first minted in 1741. It is named after Maria Theresa who ruled Austria, Hungary, and Bohemia fr ...

, were countermarked for use in Hejaz, with the name of the kingdom in ar, .

References

* Modern obsolete currencies Currencies of Asia 1916 establishments in Hejaz 1925 disestablishments Kingdom of Hejaz Currencies of Saudi Arabia {{Money-unit-stub