Jordan 10 Fils 1949

Jordan 10 Fils Coin — 1949 (AH 1368) — Detailed Summary

The 1949 Jordan 10 Fils is one of the earliest circulating coins of the newly established Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, issued under King Abdullah I. It represents the first generation of Jordanian national coinage following independence and is a popular collectible due to its historical significance, attractive bronze design, and relatively low mintage for the era.

Key Facts

• Country: Jordan

• Ruler: King Abdullah I (reigned 1946–1951)

• Year: 1949 (AH 1368)

• Denomination: 10 Fils

• KM Number: KM# 4

• Mintage: 2,700,000 circulation strikes; 25 proofs (extremely scarce)

• Mint: Royal Mint, London (Tower Hill)

• Status: Demonetized

Physical Specifications

• Composition: Bronze

• Weight: 10.0 g (Numista & NGC)

• Diameter: 28 mm (Numista & NGC)

• Thickness: 2 mm

• Edge: Plain

• Shape: Round

• Orientation: Medal alignment ↑↑

Note: One catalog (World Coins Catalog) lists a smaller 25 mm / 5.9 g version, but the authoritative Numista and NGC data confirm the 28 mm / 10 g standard.

Design Details

Obverse

• Central crowned circle containing:

  • The value (10)

  • The date in both Gregorian (1949) and Hijri (1368)

• Surrounded by sprigs

• Arabic inscription: "عشرة فلوس" (Ten Fils) "المملكة الأردنية الهاشمية" (The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan)

Reverse

• Large “10” within a circle

• Star below the date

• English inscription: "THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF THE JORDAN" "TEN FILS"

Historical Context

The 1949 10 Fils coin belongs to the first official coinage series of Jordan after gaining full independence in 1946. King Abdullah I sought to establish national identity through currency, replacing earlier Palestinian and British Mandate issues.

Minting in London reflects Jordan’s early reliance on foreign mints before establishing domestic production.

Rarity

• Circulation strike: Common

• Proof strike: Exceptionally rare (only 25 pieces minted)

Appeal to Collectors

• Early Hashemite Kingdom issue

• Attractive bronze color and symmetrical design

• Dual-language inscriptions

• Historically tied to the formation of modern Jordan

Summary

The 1949 Jordan 10 Fils is a foundational coin of the Hashemite Kingdom, minted in bronze with elegant bilingual inscriptions and a crowned emblematic design. With over 2.7 million minted, it is accessible to collectors in circulated grades, while the tiny proof mintage makes high-end examples extremely desirable. Its historical significance, early date, and classic design make it a staple piece for Middle Eastern and world coin collections.

UK Size	US Size	EU Size	Inside Diameter (mm)	Inside Circumference (mm)
A	0.5	38	12.04	37.8
B	1	39	12.45	39.1
C	1.5	40	12.85	40.4
D	2	41	13.26	41.7
E	2.5	42	13.67	43.0
F	3	44	14.07	44.2
G	3.5	45	14.48	45.5
H	4	46	14.88	46.8
I	4.5	47	15.29	48.0
J	5	49	15.49	48.7
K	5.5	50	15.90	50.0
L	6	51	16.31	51.3
M	6.5	52	16.71	52.5
N	7	54	17.12	53.8
O	7.5	55	17.53	55.1
P	8	56	17.93	56.3
Q	8.5	57	18.34	57.6
R	9	59	18.75	58.9
S	9.5	60	19.15	60.2
T	10	61	19.56	61.4
U	10.5	62	19.96	62.7
V	11	64	20.37	64.0
W	11.5	65	20.78	65.3
X	12	66	21.18	66.6
Y	12.5	67	21.59	67.9
Z	13	68	21.99	69.1
Z+1	13.5	69	22.40	70.4
Z+2	14	70	22.81	71.7
Z+3	14.5	71	23.21	72.9
Z+4	15	72	23.62	74.2