Lebanese Pound Banknotes (LBP)

The Lebanese pound is a Mediterranean currency system influenced by French polychrome design, transitioning from regional stability to a modern structure.

Quick Facts

Country: Lebanon

Code: LBP

Symbol: ل.ل

System: Decimal (1 Pound = 100 Piastres)

Status: In circulation

Issuer: Bank of Lebanon

The Story of the Lebanese Pound

Originating under the French Mandate, the Lebanese pound developed within a bilingual monetary framework (Arabic and French). During the mid-20th century, it represented Lebanon’s role as a regional financial hub. However, later civil war and modern financial crisis transformed the pound into a high-denomination system, with recent series introducing polymer substrates to handle intensive circulation conditions.

Design & Symbolism

Iconography focuses on Phoenician heritage and the Cedar of Lebanon. Landmarks like the Temple of Jupiter at Baalbek are presented in a borderless, painterly style rooted in the Banque de France school of engraving. The 2023 introduction of the 100,000-pound polymer note represents the latest technological shift, creating a divide between traditional paper and modern high-durability issues.

For collectors

For collectors, the Lebanese pound is a study in “monetary contrast.” Pre-2019 issues in UNC condition are becoming scarce as high inflation drives them out of use. Early polychrome notes from the 1960s are highly sought after for their artistic merit, while the recent polymer series attracts interest as a record of modern economic adaptation and material innovation.

The Lebanese pound remains in circulation as the national currency of Lebanon, shaped by its French-influenced heritage.