Hussein bin Ali – King of the Hejaz (1916–1919) was born in 1854 in Constantinople (now Istanbul). He was a member of the Hashemite dynasty, which claims to be a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. He was the Emir of Mecca from 1908, and in 1916 he proclaimed himself King of the Hejaz. In 1916, he launched the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire, with British support. His goal was to create an independent Arab state. Although he called himself "King of the Arabs", the international community recognized him only as King of the Hejaz. He participated in the post-World War II peace negotiations, but rejected the Treaty of Versailles because it did not guarantee Arab independence. His sons – Abdullah, Faisal, Ali and Zeid – played important political roles: Faisal became King of Iraq and Abdullah became King of Jordan. He came into conflict with Ibn Saud, who eventually captured the Hejaz in 1925, forcing Hussein into exile. This period was a key one in the history of Arab nationalism and the modern Middle East.

Hussein bin Ali proclaimed the Kingdom of Hejaz in 1916 after launching the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire. The kingdom was mainly located around Mecca and Medina, and introduced its own coinage to express its independence. The most common coins are ¼, ½ and 1 Qirsh (also known as Piastre or Ghirsh). The coins are marked with the year according to the Islamic calendar, for example AH 1334 (which is 1916–1917 according to the Gregorian calendar). Materials: Bronze, silver and rarely gold. Inscriptions in Arabic, often with the name Hussein bin Ali and the name Hejaz. Many coins were counterstamped Ottoman money, on which the inscription "al-Hijaz" was struck, indicating the new rule. Rare pieces For example, the bronze ¼ Qirsh coin from AH 1334 (1923) 1.4 g It weighs 17 mm in diameter and is considered a rarity today. There is also a gold Dinar Hashimi, minted in Mecca in AH 1334. These are particularly valuable among collectors. The price of such coins can range from several hundred euros to several thousand, depending on their condition and rarity. For example, a gold dinar sold for 2,400 euros at an auction in 2025.