500 Baisa 1995, Oman
| in Krause book | Number: 33 |
| Years of issue: | 1995 |
| Edition: | |
| Signatures: | Sultan of Oman: Sultan Qaboos bin Said |
| Serie: | 1995 Issue |
| Specimen of: | 1995 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 135 x 64 |
| Printer: | TDLR (Thomas de la Rue & Company), London |
* All pictures marked 
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Description
Watermark:
The Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said Al Said.
Avers:
Qaboos bin Said Al Said ( قابوس بن سعيد آل سعيد, born 18 November 1940, Salalah, Oman, dies 10 January 2020) was the Sultan of Oman and its Dependencies. He rose to power after overthrowing his father, Said bin Taimur, in a palace coup in 1970. He is the 14th-generation descendant of the founder of the Al Bu Sa'idi dynasty.
By combining the Imamat of Oman and the Muscat Sultanate in a single state, the Sultan then, with the support of Great Britain and Shah's Iran, managed to defeat the insurgency in Dhofar. In November 1996, Sultan Qaboos signed the first Basic Law (Constitution) of Oman. 
Centered is Bahla fort.
On the eastern outskirts of the oasis of Bahla towers an architectural masterpiece of clay - a huge fort, a monument to the power of the tribe of banu-nebhan, thriving in this region in the XII-XV centuries. The fortress of Bahla is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "an outstanding example of the military architecture of the Sultanate of Oman".
Myths and facts:
When exactly the fortress was built it is not known. But the chronicles say that in 1406 Bahla was the capital of Oman, and in the fortress housed the residence of the ruling Nabhani dynasty. Together with the fortifications of Nizwa, Rustak and Izki, it was a chain of defensive structures at the foot of the highlands Jebel Akhdar.
The fortress is built on a stone foundation, the walls are lined with raw brick. Towers reach 50 m in height, and the surrounding wall is 12 km. in length.
Before entering the UNESCO list in 1987, the complex was in a dilapidated state. The Omani government allocated $ 9 million for restoration work, which began in 1993. And although in 2004 the fortress of Bahla was excluded from the list of disappearing objects, repair works continue to this day.
The local residents have their own explanation for the protracted reconstruction. They argue that in their city dwellers are genies, which can appear in the guise of the most ordinary people. According to legend, the fortress Bahlu together with a 12 kilometer wall erected the jinn in one night. It is the jinns who express their dissatisfaction that European experts repairing the walls have dared to disturb them, and at night they rip off new plaster. In addition, during the reconstruction along the entire perimeter of the fortress wall, human skeletons were buried. Since then, local authorities have joined the popular opinion and decided that foreigners should not be allowed to repair work.
In top left corner is the national emblem of Oman (شعار سلطنة عمان). It is an insignia consisting of a khanjar inside its sheath that is superimposed upon two crossed swords. Adopted in the XVIII century as the badge of the Omani royal family, it subsequently became the national emblem of the Sultanate of Oman. The emblem is featured at the canton on the Flag of Oman.
The national emblem was first designed in the mid-18th century, when it was adopted as the royal crest of the Al Said dynasty. Its usage was expanded when it subsequently became the national emblem of the sultanate. This occurred during the reign of either Faisal bin Turki (1888-1913) or Taimur bin Feisal (1913-1932). The emblem was later incorporated onto the canton of the country's national flag in 1970. Moreover, in order to distinguish "directly royal entities" and create a distinct symbol for these organizations, a crown was added to the top of the national emblem. This modified insignia is utilized on the badges of all branches of Sultan's Armed Forces, including the Royal Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Guard, and Royal Oman Police - among many others.
According to the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the khanjar - along with the two crossed swords - symbolize the historic weapons utilized by the people of Oman. They are attached together by an embellished horse-bit at the center. The khanjar itself is a national symbol of the sultanate, and is still worn by Omani men as a "ceremonial dagger" for formal occasions. It is a ceremonial dagger with its abundantly decorated sheath, traditionally made of rhinonoceros-horn, highly appreciated in the arab world and for that reason contributes substantially to the extinction of the rhinoceros in Africa.
Denominations are at bottom and on right side.
Revers:
Centered (above) is Nakhal Fort.
It is a large fortification in the Al Batinah Region of Oman. It is named after the Wilayah of Nakhal. The fort houses a museum, operated by the Ministry of Tourism, which has exhibits of historic guns, and the fort also hosts a weekly goat market.
The fort, also known as Husn Al Heem, was named after the state of Nakhal where it exists above the old village of Nakhl. It has a history which dates back to the pre-Islamic period. Over the centuries, it underwent many renovations and improvements. It was re-built by Omani architects in the XVII century. Built as a protective measure for an area oasis and nearby trade routes, it passes through the regional capital of Nizwa. The gateway and towers seen now were extensions built in 1834 attributed to imam Said bin Sultan. In 1990, it was fully renovated. Imams of Wadi Bani Kharous and the Ya'arubah dynasty resided here in the past.
The fort is approximately 120 kilometers (75 mi.) to the west of Muscat, the capital of Oman, at the entrance of Wilayt Nakhal in Wadi Ar Raqeem. It is situated on a rocky prominence at the foot of Jebel Nakhal, a spur of the main Western Hajar range. It is to the northeast of Jabal Akhdar also called green mountain. Nakhal Fort is surrounded by orchards of palm trees. Its battlements provide a view of the Al-Batinah Region. The ancient Nakhal village is below the fort and close by is the warm springs of Ain A'Thawwarah. Nakhal Fort is one of several fortifications in the Al Batinah Region, the others being Al Hazim, Al-Sifalah, Rustaq, and Shinas forts.
Built in the architectural style of the Sultanate of Oman, it is unique in that it was built to fit around an irregularly-shaped rock, with some rock exposures jutting out into the interiors. The fort houses a museum, operated by the Ministry of Tourism with exhibits of historic guns. A weekly Friday goat auction market takes place within the precincts of the fort. During recent renovations the fort has been fitted with traditional furniture, handicrafts and historic artifacts.
Centered (at the bottom) is Al Hazm Castle.
Al Hazm Castle (حصن الحزم) in Al Rustaq at Al Batinah region, is one of the most magnificent castles in Oman. It had been under renovation by the Ministry of Tourism for a few years and was recently re-opened to the public with modern electronic guides and exhibits that make a visit to this castle a must-do to anyone coming to Al Rustaq.
It was built around the beginning of the 18th century towards the end of the reign of Al Yarubi tribe over Oman when they made Al Rustaq the capital of their state. Al Yarubi tribe is most famously known for removing the Portuguese from Oman. They are also responsible for constructing a number of significant Omani forts and castles including Nizwa Fort and Jabreen Castle.
The difference between Nizwa Fort and Jabreen Castle on one side and Al Hazm Castle on the other side demonstrates the shift in the construction of Omani forts designed to withstand gun attacks, to Omani forts designed to withstand cannon attacks, with Al Hazm being the more technologically advanced structure. The construction of the castle is unique among other Omani forts and castles in the fact that no wood was used in the construction of its ceilings. Al Hazm castle sits somewhat between Nizwa Fort and Jabreen Castle in being a fortified structure, but also a palace in which the Imam resided. Therefore, even though it was designed primarily for defense purposes, it still features numerous delicate artistic architectural elements. It is worth noting that Al Hazm Castle is on the UNESCO tentative list for World Heritage Sites along with Al Rustaq Fort.
Al Hazm Castle has a square shape with two giant cylindrical cannon towers on the north and south corners of the castle. The first prominent feature of the main building of the castle is its intricate Indian wood gate. The castle also hosts the tombs of two Yarubi imams, a prison, a Quran classroom, and crosses the path of a falaj. The castle also showcases some unique engravings and architectural designs that are not seen in other castles such as those found in the cannon exhibition room in the castle tower.
Al Hazam Castle is one of the most recently renovated castles in Oman and is equipped with digital guides and detailed description of the exhibits. It is definitely one of the must-visit Omani castles in our opinion. It is located 160 km. away from Muscat and can be easily found by following the signs in Al Rustaq. (www.omantripper.com)
Denominations are in top corners. In words on top, centered.
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