Currency Museum (Central Bank of Bahrain)

The Currency Museum is housed in the Central Bank of Bahrain building in the Diplomatic Area of Manama, Bahrain, and tells the story of money in the islands. Its displays follow a broadly chronological path, beginning with the ancient trade of Dilmun and Tylos, when weights, seals and foreign coins circulated through Bahrain's ports, and moving through the Islamic centuries and the era of pearl-based commerce. Visitors can see coins from different empires and regions that reached Bahrain through trade, including Indian and Gulf issues, and learn how the Indian rupee and later the Gulf rupee were used before the country issued its own money. The museum then presents the modern phase: the establishment of the Bahrain Currency Board in the mid-1960s, the introduction of the Bahraini dinar in 1965, and the evolution of banknotes and coins up to the present, with commemorative issues and security features explained alongside. Examples of banknote designs, printing plates and numismatic material give the exhibition a documentary character, supported by panels and cases. The museum is a modest, purpose-built gallery within a working institution, so it is more compact than the large national museums, and it is aimed at visitors who want a focused look at economic history. It is maintained by the central bank, which keeps the displays updated, and the collection benefits from secure, climate-controlled conditions typical of a financial institution. Because it is located in a secured government building, visitors should bring identification and expect a security check at the entrance. Opening hours are limited to weekday mornings, Sunday to Thursday, and the museum is closed on weekends and public holidays. Telephone enquiries can be made on +973 1754 7747. The visit pairs well with the National Museum, which treats the same ancient trade networks from an archaeological angle.