These ‘Haj’ notes too were of different colors from the ones used in India - blue for the Rs 10 note instead of violet and red for the Rs 100 note instead of purple. The word 'HAJ' appears to the left and right of 'The Reserve Bank of India' at the top of the notes and the serial numbers all begin with the prefix 'HA'.

The Gulf Rupee did not however remain in circulation for long. The many economic and political changes in the Persian Gulf countries in the decade of the 1960’s meant that the states began issuing their own currencies. Massive oil reserves were discovered in the region during this time and soon big money began rolling into these once backward economies. Kuwait was the first Gulf state to introduce its own currency, the Kuwaiti Dinar in 1961. Bahrain introduced its own Bahraini Dinar four years later in 1965.

The on 6th June 1966, Indira Gandhi’s government devalued the Indian Rupee by almost 57% from Rs 4.76 to Rs 7.50 to a dollar. This was done to aid the Indian economy which was in a precarious state due to the trade deficit, reliance on foreign aid and wars with China and Pakistan. The move was heavily criticized in India, but it also had a ripple effect on the Gulf economies as well. From early 1966, when reports of possible devaluation of the Indian Rupee began to be circulated, Gulf states had raised their concerns with the Indian government about the impact such a move would have on their economies. They had even demanded that the British Government intervene, as it was the British who were responsible for the circulation of Indian currency in the Gulf. Despite their protests, the devaluation took place and the Gulf states had no option but to stop using the Indian rupees as a legal currency.

Thus, by end of 1966, almost all states had replaced the Indian rupees in circulation either with the Saudi Riyals or Bahraini Dinars. Only, Oman continued to use the Gulf Rupee till 1970, when it too introduced its own currency – the Omani Rial. With this, the Gulf Rupees, as well as Haj notes, were withdrawn from circulation.

Today, these notes are quite popular among numismatic collectors both in India as well as Gulf states. On 25th April 2017, at the Spinks Auction in London, a Rs 100 Haj Pilgrim issue of 1950 of the serial number HA 078400 was sold for 44,000 pounds (hammer price). The total cost of the note including the taxes was a whopping 52,800 pounds!