Visitors take a glimpse of rare currencies at Janadriyah festival

The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) pavilion drew hundreds of thousands of visitors who were extremely curious to know about the evolution of currency through the ages ever since the pre-Islamic period until the period of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
The pavilion showcased a spectacular collection of metallic coins and paper currencies. They included gold, silver, bronze and copper coins minted during the periods of various rulers in ancient time. These coins were displayed in specially-made glass cases with brief description about them, such as their weight, radius and period of minting. There are also metallic coins that were in circulation during the periods of Umayyads, Abbasids and Ottomans.
The SAMA pavilion also contained a comprehensive documentation of the history of Saudi riyal since the foundation of Saudi Arabia by King Abdul Aziz. The displays included the first silver coins issued in the name of Saudi Arabia in 1935, the Arabian silver riyal issued in 1951 and the first paper currency in the form of Haj Pilgrim Receipts issued in 1953. The pavilion also showcased the riyal notes and coins issued during the periods of King Saud, King Faisal, King Khaled and King Fahd as well as riyal notes and coins in various denominations issued by King Abdullah in 2007. Another major highlight of the pavilion was SAMA’s elaborate arrangements to make aware to both citizens and foreigners against counterfeit notes. SAMA organized various awareness programs, including presentation of documentary films, and distribution of books and leaflets on how to detect counterfeit notes and ensure safety of currencies. There were also corners for selling old currencies and medals of SAMA as well as some books on the history of Saudi currencies, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Meanwhile, the Janadriyah Organizing Committee on Friday honored heads of delegations from various regions as well as from government departments taking part in the festival. This was in line with the directives of Minister of State and Commander of the National Guard Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, who is also chairman of the festival's supreme committee.
The kindergarten division at the General Department of Education in Jazan region had an active participation in the festival, especially at the children’s theater set up at the Ministry of Education’s pavilion where a number of dramas and cultural activities were held. Amal Abu Taleb, director of the division, said that these programs were aimed at developing skills and talents of children to achieve all-round development of their personality, in addition to strengthening the role of teachers in this respect.
An electronic crane fitted to the rear side of an ambulance stationed at the pavilion of the Ministry of Social Affairs was another major attraction in the festival grounds. The crane helps people with special needs and the elderly, in wheelchairs, to get inside the vehicle. This is part of numerous services being extended by the Multipurpose Cooperative Society run by King Saud University staff.
Badar Al-Qahtani, director of human resources at the society, said that the society owns three vans equipped with the crane, each of which costs SR30,000. “The automatic crane lowers down to pick up the wheelchair, carrying the man and the chair, from the ground and taking them onto the vehicle smoothly,” he said, adding that the society is also extending free transportation facilities for the disabled and the elderly, especially for those patients who receive treatment from King Khaled University Hospital. According to Al-Qahtani, the 24-hour free taxi service is available through making a phone call (01 4684860).