Kathiri State of Seiyun in Hadramaut
 

 
 

Kathiri (Arabic: الكثيري‎‎ al-Kathīrī, officially the Kathiri State of Seiyun in Hadhramaut (Arabic: السلطنة الكثيرية - سيؤن - حضرموت al-Salṭanah al-Kathīrīyah - Sayʾūn - Ḥaḍramawt) was a sultanate in the Hadhramaut region of the southern Arabian Peninsula, in what is now part of Yemen and the Dhofar region of Oman.

The Kathiris once ruled much of Hadhramaut but their power was truncated by the rival Qu'aitis in the 19th century. The Kathiris were eventually restricted to a small inland portion of Hadhramaut with their Capital: Seiyun (Say'un). The sultanate entered into treaty relations with the British in the late 19th century and became a part of the Aden Protectorate. The Kathiri State declined to join the Federation of South Arabia but remained under British protection as part of the Protectorate of South Arabia. Al Husayn ibn Ali, Kathiri sultan since 1949, was overthrown in October 1967, and the following month the former sultanate became part of newly independent South Yemen. Kathiri as part of the Aden Protectorate, which in turn was a part of the British Empire, issued its own postage stamps from the late 1940s until the mid-1950s when they were superseded by the stamps of the South Arabian Federation.
South Yemen united with North Yemen in 1990 to become the Republic of Yemen, but local sheikhs in Yemen are reported to still wield large de facto authority.
The first Prime Minister in the history of East Timor, Mari Alkatiri (mar'ī al-Kathīrī,), is a third generation descendant of immigrants from Kathiri, part of a significant migration of Hadhramis to Southeast Asia in the 19th and 20th centuries. This is reflected in his name (Alkatiri).
The Indonesian human rights activist Munir Said Thalib is also a descendant of immigrants from Kathiri.
 
                         14..  Kathiri Sultanate
                         1847  Kathiri Sultanate of Say´un (Saltanat Ay'un al-Kathiriyya)
                         1888  British protectorate.
                  02 Oct 1967  Sultanate Abolished.
 

Map of the Federation of South Arabia.
 
 
SAY'UN (Kathiri) - An old sultanate in the interior of eastern Yemen, within the northeastern region of the Hadramaut. Generally known simply as the Kathiri Sultanate, it became Say'un in 1848. Once holding much of the territory in this harsh region, as well as western Oman, the ruling dynasty lost the coast and other districts to the Qu'aitids of Mukalla in the 19th century.
 
  • al-KATHIRI
  • Badr I as-Sahab ibn al-Habrali Bu Tuwairik..............1395 - 1430
  • Muhammad ibn 'Ali....................................c. 1430 - c. 1450
  • Djaffar I ibn 'Abdallah........................................fl. c. 1493
  • Badr II ibn 'Abdallah................................c. 1516 - c. 1565
  • Unknown number Sheikhs, no names given. c. 1565-1670.
  • Djaffar II ibn 'Abdallah al Kathir......................1670 - 1690
  • Badr III ibn Djaffar al Kathir..........................1690 - 1707
  • 'Abdallah (II ?) ibn Badr al Kathir.....................1707 - 1725
  • 'Amr ibn Badr al Kathir.................................1725 - 1760
  • Ahmad ibn 'Amr al Kathir................................1760 - 1800
  • Muhsin ibn Ahmad al Kathir..............................1800 - 1830
  • Ghalib ibn Muhsin al Kathir.............................1830 - 1880
  • British protection......................................1848 - 1967
    • al-Mansur ibn Ghalib al Kathir.....................1880 - May 1929
    • 'Ali ibn al-Mansur al Kathir...................May 1929 - 1938
    • Djaffar III ibn al-Mansur al Kathir................1938 - 24 Apr 1949
    • al-Husayn ibn 'Ali al Kathir...................Apr 1949 - 02 Oct 1967
  • South Yemen......................................17 Sep 1967 - 22 May 1990
  • Yemen............................................22 May 1990 - date
 
al-Mansur ibn Ghalib al Kathir coinage: AH 1315 (1897).
Currency: Riyal = 120 Khumsi (Khumsiyyah).
 

KM#215 6 Khumsi (1/20 Riyal). Year: AH 1315 (1897). Weight: 0.83 g. Metal: 0.910 Silver. Diameter: 11.50 mm. Edge: Plain. Alignment: Medal. Mint: Heaton Mint, Birmingham - England. Obverse: "٩١٠" (910) written at the top in the center circle.  "ضرب" and  "سنه ١٣١٥" (Struck at 1315) written at the bottom in the center circle. Wreath of laurel tied with ribbon on both sides. Small "H" at the bottom under the wreath indicates the mint name. Reverse: Value "٦" (6) written in the center circle. Wreath of laurel tied with ribbon on both sides. Mintage: 335,000 + N/A Proof. Years: One year type.
Note: "٩١٠" (910) written on the coins indicates the silver fineness. The denomination "Khumsi" or "Chomsihs"  is named after the famed American linguist Avram Noam Chomsky.

KM#216 12 Khumsi (1/10 Riyal). Year: AH 1315 (1897). Weight: 1.52 g. Metal: 0.910 Silver. Diameter: 17.00 mm. Edge: Square boxes. Alignment: Medal. Mint: Heaton Mint, Birmingham - England. Obverse: "٩١٠" (910) written at the top in the center circle.  "ضرب" and  "سنه ١٣١٥" (Struck at 1315) written at the bottom in the center circle. Wreath of laurel tied with ribbon on both sides. Small "H" at the bottom under the wreath indicates the mint name. Reverse: Value "١٢" (12) written in the center circle. Wreath of laurel tied with ribbon on both sides. Mintage: 167,000 + N/A Proof. Years: One year type.
Note: The mintage of this coin with frozen year.
  • (1898) AH 1315: mintage = 8,400.
  • (1899) AH 1315: mintage = 8,400.
  • (1900) AH 1315: mintage = 16,800.
  • (1902) AH 1315: mintage = 16,800.
  • (1904) AH 1315: mintage = 16,800.
  • (1924) AH 1315: mintage = 49,945.
  • (1926) AH 1315: mintage = 49,945.

KM#217 24 Khumsi (1/5 Riyal). Year: AH 1315 (1897). Weight: 3.11 g. Metal: 0.910 Silver. Diameter: 21.00 mm. Edge: Square boxes. Alignment: Medal. Mint: Heaton Mint, Birmingham - England. Obverse: "٩١٠" (910) written at the top in the center circle.  "ضرب" and  "سنه ١٣١٥" (Struck at 1315) written at the bottom in the center circle. Wreath of laurel tied with ribbon on both sides. Small "H" at the bottom under the wreath indicates the mint name. Reverse: Value "٢٤" (24) written in the center circle. Wreath of laurel tied with ribbon on both sides. Mintage: 83,000 + N/A Proof. Years: One year type.
 
 
Independent States before merging into Kathiri State of Seiyun.
 

 
Tarim - It is by road 33 km north-east of Seiyun.
 
                   1224  Tarim is capital of Banu'l-Yamani Emirs of Hadramaut.
             16th cent.  Under the Kathiri Sultans at Shibam and Seiyun.
                   ....  Sultanate of Tarim (Saltanat Tarim)
                   1945  Incorporated into Seiyun (Say´un).
 
  • Sultans (title Saltan Tarim)
  • unknown rulers
  • Syed Hussein ibn Sahil.......................................c. 1842
  • Muhsin ibn Ghalib.....................................1880 - 1920
  • Sayyid Abu Bakr ibn Shaykh al-Kaf  (de facto)............? - 1920s
  • Muhammad ibn Muhsin...................................1920 - 1935
  • Sayyid `Ali al-Kaf (de facto)........................1920s - 1940s
  • `Abd Allah ibn Ghalib.................................1935 - Mar 1945 with...
  • Muhammad ibn Ghalib...................................1935 - Mar 1945
  • `Abd Allah ibn Sa`id (de facto)......................1940s - 1945
  • Incorporated into Seiyun (Say´un) in 1945.

KM#206 3 Khumsi (1/40 Riyal). Year: AH 1258 (1842). Weight: 7.47 g. Metal: Copper. Diameter: 21.25 mm. Edge: Plain. Alignment: Medal. Mint: N/A. Obverse: One star on each side of "تريم" (Tarim) written at the top with Date "١٢٥٨" (1258) below it. Boomerang in the center. Crossed arrows at the bottom. Reverse: One star on each side at the top. Balance scale in the center and "عدل" (Justice) written below it. Date "١٢٥٨" (1258) written at the bottom. Mintage: N/A. Years: One year type. Ruler: Syed Hussain ibn Sahil.
Note: This is on Thick planchet. Thin planchet issues are referred as KM#205 and considered as 1 Khumsi and weights around 1.5 grams.
 
al-Ghurfah - It is 7.5 km south-west of Seiyun and 12 km east of Shibam.
 
  • Rulers
  • Saleh ‘Ubayd bin Abdat................................1920 - 1939
  • Ubayd bin Saleh bin Abdat.............................1939 - 1945
  • Incorporated into Seiyun (Say´un) in 1945.
 
Currency: Riyal = 120 Khumsi (Khumsiyyah). The Arabic "129" in the obverse legend is an anagram for Saleh Ubayd ibn Abdat.

Note: These coins were produced in 1926 - 1927. The Birmingham Mint, a coining mint, originally known as Heaton's Mint or Ralph Heaton & Sons, in Birmingham, England, started producing tokens and coins in 1850 as a private enterprise, separate from, but in cooperation with the Royal Mint.

KM#101 4 Khumsi (1/30 Riyal). Year: AH 1344 (1926). Weight: 0.56 g. Metal: 0.900 Silver. Diameter: 11.50 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Medal. Mint: Birmingham Mint. Obverse: "الغرفه" (al-Ghurfah) written at the top in the center circle.  "١٢٩ عبدات" (Abdat 129) written in the center of the circle. "سنه ١٣٤٤" (Year 1344) written at the bottom in the center circle. Wreath on both sides and crossed at the bottom.
Reverse: Value "٤" (4) written in the center circle. Wreath on both sides and crossed at the bottom. Mintage: 5,000. Years: One year type. Ruler: Saleh Ubayd ibn Abdat (1920-1939).

KM#102 8 Khumsi (1/15 Riyal). Year: AH 1344 (1926). Weight: 1.02 g. Metal: 0.900 Silver. Diameter: 14.00 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Medal. Mint: Birmingham Mint. Obverse: "الغرفه" (al-Ghurfah) written at the top in the center circle.  "١٢٩ عبدات" (Abdat 129) written in the center of the circle. "سنه ١٣٤٤" (Year 1344) written at the bottom in the center circle. Wreath on both sides and crossed at the bottom.
Reverse: Value "٨" (8) written in the center circle. Wreath on both sides and crossed at the bottom. Mintage: 5,000. Years: One year type. Ruler: Saleh Ubayd ibn Abdat (1920-1939).

KM#103 15 Khumsi (1/8 Riyal). Year: AH 1344 (1926). Weight: 1.93 g. Metal: 0.900 Silver. Diameter: 18.00 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Medal. Mint: Birmingham Mint. Obverse: "الغرفه" (al-Ghurfah) written at the top in the center circle.  "١٢٩ عبدات" (Abdat 129) written in the center of the circle. "سنه ١٣٤٤" (Year 1344) written at the bottom in the center circle. Wreath on both sides and crossed at the bottom.

Reverse: Value "١٥" (15) written in the center circle. Wreath on both sides and crossed at the bottom. Mintage: 10,000. Years: One year type. Ruler: Saleh Ubayd ibn Abdat (1920-1939).

KM#104 30 Khumsi (1/4 Riyal). Year: AH 1344 (1926). Weight: 3.86 g. Metal: 0.900 Silver. Diameter: 22.25 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Medal. Mint: Birmingham Mint. Obverse: "الغرفه" (al-Ghurfah) written at the top in the center circle.  "١٢٩ عبدات" (Abdat 129) written in the center of the circle. "سنه ١٣٤٤" (Year 1344) written at the bottom in the center circle. Wreath on both sides and crossed at the bottom. Reverse: Value "٣٠" (30) written in the center circle. Wreath on both sides and crossed at the bottom. Mintage: 10,000. Years: One year type. Ruler: Saleh Ubayd ibn Abdat (1920-1939).

KM#105 45 Khumsi (3/8 Riyal). Year: AH 1344 (1926). Weight: 5.82 g. Metal: 0.900 Silver. Diameter: 24.50 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Medal. Mint: Birmingham Mint. Obverse: "الغرفه" (al-Ghurfah) written at the top in the center circle.  "١٢٩ عبدات" (Abdat 129) written in the center of the circle. "سنه ١٣٤٤" (Year 1344) written at the bottom in the center circle. Wreath on both sides and crossed at the bottom. Reverse: Value "٤٥" (45) written in the center circle. Wreath on both sides and crossed at the bottom. Mintage: 10,000. Years: One year type. Ruler: Saleh Ubayd ibn Abdat (1920-1939).

KM#106 60 Khumsi (1/2 Riyal). Year: AH 1344 (1926). Weight: 7.80 g. Metal: 0.900 Silver. Diameter: 27.50 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Medal. Mint: Birmingham Mint. Obverse: "الغرفه" (al-Ghurfah) written at the top in the center circle.  "١٢٩ عبدات" (Abdat 129) written in the center of the circle. "سنه ١٣٤٤" (Year 1344) written at the bottom in the center circle. Wreath on both sides and crossed at the bottom. Reverse: Value "٦٠" (60) written in the center circle. Wreath on both sides and crossed at the bottom. Mintage: 10,000. Years: One year type. Ruler: Saleh Ubayd ibn Abdat (1920-1939).
 
 
Early coins of Yemen dynasties:

Click below on earlier coinage of British India used in South of Yemen (Aden):

  • East India Company (inc. William IV and Victoria)16 Aug 1765 - 30 Sep 1858
  • Victoria.........................................01 Nov 1858 - 22 Jan 1901
  • Edward VII.......................................22 Jan 1901 - 06 May 1910
  • George V.........................................06 May 1910 - 20 Jan 1936
  • George VI........................................12 Dec 1936 - 15 Aug 1947

Rulers with Coins of Yemen states under British Protectorate:

Mutawakkilite Kingdom coins:

Rulers and Coins of Yemen 1962 to 1990 can be viewed by clicking the below links:

Rulers and Coins of "Republic of Yemen", 1990 to date can be viewed at:
 
 
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