Front: Elizabeth II (1926-), Queen of United Kingdom, British colonies and Commonwealth of Nations

Back: Coat of Arms

Scans courtesy of Spartan

Front: Mosaic of nymph Acme

Back: Bellapais Abbey

Front: Seated Cypriot woman

Back: Yermasoyia Dam

Cyprus, an island situated in the eastern Mediterranean Sea 44 miles south of Turkey, and 60 miles west of Syria, was a British colony from 1925 to 1960. It became independent in 1960. For a more detailed country profile, see CIA World Factbook on Cyprus.

Beginning on January 1, 2008 Euro becomes the official currency for Cyprus.