Change and Continuity in Libyan Currency

Money is an everyday object, something we take for granted, and yet every image on money is innately political. One of the earliest policies put in place by the new Libyan government was to recall banknotes of the Gaddafi era and to replace outdated imagery where necessary. While the focus here is on money, it must be remembered that imagery of Gaddafi was systematically destroyed throughout the Libyan uprisings, whether in terms of the old Libyan flag, the Green Book, or many of the public portraits of the ousted leader. Recalling banknotes therefore should be viewed as part of a wider continuum of removing other political imagery of or associated with Gaddafi.