PMG Note of the Month: Qatar

Posted on 6/23/2026

The previous host of the World Cup issued this 2022 commemorative note with the goal of promoting the world's top soccer tournament.

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Country: Qatar

Catalog Number: 39a

Date: 2022

Denomination: 22 Riyals

Varieties: The PMG Population Report also lists Pick# 39a* for Replacement/Star notes; 39er for Early Releases; 39afr for First Releases; and 39afr* for First Releases of Replacement/Star notes.

What makes it special? Issued for the previous FIFA World Cup, which Qatar hosted in late 2022, the front of this 22 Riyals shows Lusail Stadium. The fourth-largest stadium in Asia, it seats more than 88,000 people and was the location of the last World Cup Final, in which Argentina defeated France. The back shows Qatar's second-largest stadium, Al-Bayt Stadium, which hosted the opening match.

Did you know? The unusual denomination of 22 Riyals not only reflects the year of the last World Cup but also the fact that this was the 22nd World Cup. It was the first time a Mideast country hosted the World Cup.

Total graded by PMG: As of mid-June 2026, the PMG Population Report includes more than 1,000 examples of 39a, more than 120 of 39a*, and more than 120 of 30afr. The remaining seven notes are split between 39afr* and 39aer.

PMG median grade: PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ for Pick# 39a and 39a*, and PMG 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ for 39afr.

PMG highest graded: Two 39a examples are graded PMG 70★ Gem Uncirculated EPQ.

Sales highlight: A 39a graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ realized €38 in October 2024 while a 39a* graded PMG 64 Choice Uncirculated realized €34 in July 2025. Both sales were through Crown Currency Auctions.

PMG Registry: This note is part of the most popular Qatar category in the PMG Registry, Qatar Complete, 1973-Date, Type Set, Issued Notes, where Empty Quarter's first-place Qatar Complete to 2022 has an example of 39a in PMG 67 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ. It is also part of the shorter Qatar Central Bank, 1996-Date, Issued Notes, Complete, Including Varieties category, where the first-place set, baydaqbanknotes' Qatar 1996 - Date BB, has a 39a graded PMG 69 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ.

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