Parliament approves a law letting Banque du Liban issue an unprecedented 5 million LBP banknote. In dollars? About 56 bucks. Welcome to Lebanon’s monetary reality.
On 11 September 2025, Lebanon’s Parliament Finance and Budget Committee, chaired by MP Ibrahim Kanaan, approved a measure authorizing the Banque du Liban to issue new high-denomination banknotes. Chief among them: the LBP 5,000,000 note. Officials call it a “technical necessity” in a cash-only economy. Economists call it what it is: a stark emblem of collapse. Sources: Ici Beyrouth, MRI Guide, This is Beirut.
Background
Lebanon once had a maximum banknote of 100,000 LBP. That was before the currency’s spectacular nosedive. Today, even buying groceries requires wads of cash thick enough to choke a wallet. Parliament’s solution? Skip a few zeroes ahead and issue a note worth five million. It sounds massive, but with the pound trading at basement levels, it’s barely enough for a family dinner in dollars.
Proponents, like MP Kanaan, present the move as pragmatic. “It’s about easing daily transactions,” they say — no more carrying kilos of paper to pay rent. Critics, however, are less diplomatic. High-denomination notes are the unmistakable calling card of an imploding currency. Once you see them, you know the national unit is no longer trusted. In Beirut’s cafés, the joke writes itself: *finally, a banknote that matches the number of zeros in the economy.*
Design & denomination shock
No design mock-ups have been released yet. Whether the note will feature Lebanon’s cedar, political figures, or generic motifs remains to be seen. What we do know is that the denomination leap is extraordinary: from 100,000 straight to 5,000,000. It’s the numismatic equivalent of jumping from a scooter to a Boeing 747 without a test flight.
Tech Specs (expected)
- Denomination
- 5,000,000 Lebanese pounds (LBP)
- Value in USD
- ≈ $50–56 (parallel market, Sep 2025)
- Issuer
- Banque du Liban (BDL)
- Legislation
- Approved by Finance & Budget Committee, 11 Sep 2025
- Reason
- Facilitate transactions in a cash-based economy
- Concerns
- Hyperinflation signal, trust erosion, potential misuse
- Status
- Authorized, design pending, circulation date TBD
Collector’s angle: If printed, this note will be instantly infamous. Not for rarity, but for symbolism: a physical marker of Lebanon’s economic meltdown. UNC examples may one day become the hyperinflation trophies collectors love.
Quick Answers
Why issue a 5 million pound note?
How much is 5 million LBP worth?
What was the previous highest denomination?
When will it circulate?
Does this signal hyperinflation?
Highlights Facts • Collector Tips • Did You Know?
Facts
- Approved 11 Sep 2025 by Parliament’s Finance & Budget Committee.
- First Lebanese note above 100,000 LBP.
- Equivalent to just $50–56 in real value.
Collector Tips
- If printed, grab UNC examples early — inflation notes often vanish fast.
- Track serial ranges; early runs may gain extra appeal.
- Pair with past hyperinflation notes (Zimbabwe, Yugoslavia) for thematic sets.
Did You Know?
- Lebanon’s pound has lost over 90% of its value since 2019.
- Everyday transactions are almost entirely cash-based.
- Large denominations often precede redenomination or currency reform.
