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...Iraq - 5000 (Paper), 25,000 and 50000 x 2 Dinars All Dated 2023 Hybrid

جمهورية العراق

(Republic of Iraq)

البنك المركزي العراقي

(Central Bank of Iraq, est.1947)

Currency - Dinar (IQD)

Below are four notes of 5000, 25000 and 50000 (x2) dinars all printed with the year date of 2023. The 5000 note is printed on paper substrate material and the remaining are on hybrid substrate material. The two 50000 dinars notes are the same designs except it has different signatures on it. The first one is signed by Mustafa Ghaleb Mukheef, who was the bank governor from 2020 to 2023. He voluntarily resigned on 23.01.2023 due to the continuous falling in the value of the Iraqi dinar currency. He was then replaced by Mushen al-Allaq. Apart from the signatures and dates, there are no changes to the designs on all three notes.

I believe these are the only 2023 notes sighted so far. It is not sure if other denominations have been printed but not released yet. I am not surprised if they are others as the 1000 dinars 2020 prints were only reported recently (October 2024).

Five Thousand Dinars (Paper)

Governor - Mustafa Ghaleb Mukheef (tenure 2020-2023 resigned)

Watermark - Cow's head

Dimensions - 159.5mm x 78.5mm

Front - The Gali Ali Bag waterfall is depicted in the center. This waterfall is located in the Kurdistan Region, and is the highest waterfall in the Kurdistan Region and all of Iraq. The waterfall is about 95 km northeast of Erbil, the capital city of Kurdistan Region.

Back - A bird-eye view of al-Ukether Fortress. This fortress is in a rectangular shape and was built in 775 AD. It is located about 50 km south of Karbala in Iraq. This site was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000.

Twenty-Five Thousand Dinars (Hybrid)

Governor - Mustafa Ghaleb Mukheef (tenure 2020-2023 resigned*)

Watermark - Cow's head

Dimensions - 176.5mm x 78.5mm

Front - A Kurdish girl holding a jug over her right shoulder, a tractor ploughing the field loosening or turning the soil before planting. On the right is an ancient dinar coin. In the center of the note, it features a bunch of wheat.

Back - The main feature on the back of the note is the stone caving of the image of Hamurabiiy yatasallam al-sharia (King Hammurabi receiving the Law). On the bottom left is a sculpture of a standing animal, and in the bottom center are two horses walking toward each other.

Fifty Thousand Dinars (Hybrid)

Signature - Mustafa Ghaleb Mukheef (tenure 2020-2023)

Watermark - Head of a horse and electrotype ۵٠٠٠٠

Dimensions - 160mm x 66mm

Front - Featuring a water wheel, palm trees and the Gali Ali Bag waterfall.

Back - The images of people floating on the marches, a reed house, two buffaloes swimming in the marshes, wildlife migrating to the marches and the Tigris rivers. The water for the marshes mainly came from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Fifty Thousand Dinars (Hybrid)

Signature - Muhsen al-Allaq (tenure 2023-)

Watermark - Head of a horse and electrotype ۵٠٠٠٠

Dimensions - 160.5mm x 67mm

...Iraq - 5000, 25000 And 50000 Dinars All Dated 2021 (Hybrid)

جمهورية العراق

(Republic of Iraq)

البنك المركزي العراقي

(Central Bank of Iraq, est.1947)

Currency - Dinar (IQD)

Here I have posted three notes of 5000, 25000 (Hybrid) and 50000 dinars (Hybrid) all printed with the year date of 2021. It is believed that these are the only three notes issued for this particular year. The 5000 dinars is printed on paper material, whilst the remaining two are on Hybrid. There are no changes to these designs, except the year 2021.

Five Thousand Dinars (Paper)

Gali Ali Bag waterfall

Governor - Mustafa Ghaleb Mukheef (tenure 2020-2023 resigned*)

Watermark - Cow's head

Dimensions - 159mm x 78.5mm

Back -A bird-eye view of al-Ukether Fortress. This fortress is in a rectangular shape and was built in 775 AD. It is located about 50 km south of Karbala in Iraq. This site was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000.

Note * - Resigned due to the plunging of the Iraqi dinar in value.

al-Ukether Fortress

Twenty Five Thousand Dinars (Hybrid)

Kurdish girl holding a jug over her right shoulder, a tractor ploughing

Governor - Mustafa Ghaleb Mukheef (tenure 2020-2023 resigned*)

Watermark - Cow's head

Dimensions - 177.5mm x 78.5mm

Hamurabiiy yatasallam al-sharia

Fifty Thousand Dinars (Hybrid)

A water wheel, palm trees and the Gali Ali Beg waterfall

Front - Featuring a water wheel, palm trees and the Gali Ali Beg waterfall.

Governor - Mustafa Ghaleb Mukheef (tenure 2020-2023 resigned*)

Watermark - Cow's head and electrotype ۵٠٠٠٠٠

Dimensions - 160.5mm x 65.5mm

Mesopotamian Marshes

...Iraq - 2020 Series Hybrid Notes

جمهورية العراق

(Republic of Iraq)

البنك المركزي العراقي

(Central Bank of Iraq)

Currency - Dinar (IQD)

Update 02.04.2023: Missing 250 dinars dated 2020

Here, I have posted four notes of 10,000 dinars x 1; 25,000 dinars x 2 and one 50000 dinars notes. All notes are printed with the year date of 2020 (٢٠٢٠). So far these are the only notes sighted with this year's date. It is not sure if other decommissions are also printed with the same year's date. Since the first release of the 50000 dinars in 2015, the country has not released a full set of banknotes in a given year.

As per my heading, there are two versions for the 25000 dinars notes. Both are printed with the Gregorian calendar of 2020 (in Arabic ٢٠٢٠). However, the difference between these two notes is that the Islamic Hijri year is not the same. One is printed with ١٤٤١ (AH 1441) and the other one is printed with ١٤٤٢ (AH 1442). Unfortunately, I do not have an answer here for this as to why, but what I can speculate is that the Islamic new year in 2020 started on 21.08.2020 for AH 1442, and therefore one batch of banknotes must have been printed in the first half of 2020 before the new year of 21.08.2020, and another batch printed after the new year date, thus the year AH 1442. Such varieties are always making this collection more interesting. It should be noted that the Islamic year is made up of 354 or 355 days. In addition to the Hijri year date, the signatures are not the same either as all three notes posted here are not all the same. However, I believe two of the signatures are signed by the same person.

As per previous issues, these notes are all printed on Hybrid materials. The 50000 dinars note is the first reprint since 2015, whilst for the 25000 dinars, this is the fourth/fifth prints on Hybrid material.

The designs on these notes are pretty much the same as those previously released, apart from the new date and signature.

Ten Thousand Dinars (1442 AH١٤٤٢)

Dated 2020, Freedom monument in Baghdad

Front - The Freedom monument in Baghdad. This monument is located in Tahrir Square in the center of Baghdad and was opened in 1961.

Back - The great mosque of al-Nuri. This mosque is famous for its leaning minaret, which is also sometimes called 'the hunchback'. This mosque is located in the city of Mosul, and was believed to be built in 1173.

Governor - Mustafa Ghaleb (tenure 15.09.2020-)

Dimensions - 172mm x 79mm

The great mosque of al-Nuri

Twenty Five Thousand Dinars (1441 AH١٤٤١)

A Kurdish girl holding a jug over her eight shoulder, a tractor ploughing the field

Governor - Ali Mohsen Ismail al-Alaq (tenure 09.09.2014 to 15.09.2020)

Dimensions - 177mm x 78.5mm

Stone carving of the image of Hamurabiiy yatasallam al-sharia (King Hammurabi receiving the Law)

Twenty Five Thousand Dinars (1442 AH١٤٤٢)

A Kurdish girl holding a jug over her eight shoulder, a tractor ploughing the field

Governor - Mustafa Ghaleb (tenure 15.09.2020-)

Dimensions - 177.5mm x 77.5mm

Stone carving of the image of Hamurabiiy yatasallam al-sharia (King Hammurabi receiving the Law)

Fifty Thousand Dinars (١٤٤١ AH 1441)

palm trees, Gali Ali Beg waterfall

Front - Featuring a water wheel, palm trees and the Gali Ali Beg waterfall.

Governor - Ali Mohsen Ismail al-Alaq (tenure 09.09.2014 to 15.09.2020)

Dimensions - 159.5mm x 65mm

Mesopotamian Marshes or Iraqi Marshes

Just imagine this. The Iraqi dinar was once a strong currency. Now the Iraqi currency is printed with values in thousands. How much higher can it go? Will we be seeing the next value of 100,000 dinars in the near future?

Footnote:

When buying Iraqi banknotes for a particular year, please ensure that you check the year date in Arabic. I have seen many sellers listing them in one particular year but the image is not showing what they were selling. For the 2020 year print, it should have the Arabic writing of ٢٠٢٠ on the top center of the note too.

...Iraq - 2018 Series Set with the 1,000 Dinars Commemorating 2018 Listing of World Heritage Sites of the Marshes and the Monuments of Southern Iraq

جمهورية العراق
Republic of Iraq

البنك المركزي العراقي
(Central Bank of Iraq)
Currency : Dinar (IQD)

These are the 2018 series of banknotes, which comprises the 250, 500, 1000 (Commemorative note), 10000 (Hybrid) and 25000 (Hybrid) dinars issued so far. Whilst the 250, 500, 10000 and 25000 dinars are normal issues or reprints, the design of the 1000 dinars has been altered with the commemorative slogan of "the inclusion of marshes and the monuments of southern Iraq on the list of world heritage 2016" in Arabic in a circular shape surrounding a stylised sun and also an image of a person and a boat presumably floating in the marshes. This design replaced the gold dinar coin in the center of the note as those issued previously. The rest of the designs are the same. Other changes to the notes are the writing of the Bank's Governor's name instead of signing and also the modification of the Hijri and Gregorian dates (1440 H - 2018 AD). These changes are only on the front of the 1000 dinars note. It appears there are no changes on the reverse side.

It is not sure if the 5000 dinars has been printed as none has been sighted so far. It is believed the 50000 dinars was not issued for this series as the same note with the year date of 2020 has been issued.

The Iraqi dinar has come a long way. It used to be such a strong and stable currency until 1990. The dinar used to be pegged to the US Dollar at a rate of 1 dinar equals US$2.80. This exchange rate then increased in favour of the dinar, at the rate of US$3.21. All these changed when the Gulf war started in 1990, and due to the UN sanctions after the war, the Iraqi government was forced to print its own currency. Prior to the war, the Iraqi dinar was printed using the Swiss printing method which is more superior to the locally printed currency. The value of the dinar started to fall due to government excessive printing and by 1995, the exchange rate was one US dollar to buy more than 3000 dinars. Today, the exchange rate has improved quite considerably to about half the 1995's exchange rate but in no way to the pre-1990 era value.

Signature

Governor - Ali Mohsen Ismail Al-Alaq

Two Hundred and Fifty Dinars

An Astrolabe

Spiral minaret of Samarra

Five Hundred Dinars

Dated 2018, Ducan Dam

Al-thawr al-mugannah

One Thousand Dinars (Commemorative Note)

Dated 2018, Commemorative Note

Al-Mustansiriyah school in Baghdad

Five Thousand Dinars (Not Issued/None Sighted)

Ten Thousand Dinars Hybrid (171mm x 74mm)

Dated 2018, Freedom Monument

The hunchbacked tower of the Great Nurid mosque in Mosul

Twenty-Five Thousand Dinars (Hybrid)

Dated 2018, Kurdish girl carrying a jag, tractor

Caving of Hammurabi receiving the laws

...Iraq - 1000 Dinars 2018 Commemorative 2018 Listing of World Heritage Sites of the Marshes and the monuments of southern Iraq

جمهورية العراق
Republic of Iraq

البنك المركزي العراقي
(Central Bank of Iraq)
Currency : Dinar (IQD)

This is a 1000 dinars commemorative note celebrating the Iraq marshlands named as UNESCO World Heritage site in 2016. The marshes, a wetland area, once known as the Ahwar of Southern Iraq, covered some 9,000 sq km in southern Iraq before it was drained by the previous Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Following the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, the marshes managed to recover but to their original size. In 2015, the marshes managed to restore to about 60% of their original size. The problem that prevented this recovery was due to upstream dam construction by both Turkey and Syria and also drought in the region. The water for the marshes are fed by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The marshes are also an important place to wildlife as it provides a resting place for thousands of wildfowl migrating between Siberia and Africa every year.

This note is dated 2018, and the design of this commemorative note is basically the same as the last 1000 dinar series except that the design of the 1000 dinars has been altered in the middle with the commemorative slogan of "the inclusion of marshes and the monuments of southern Iraq on the list of world heritage 2016" in Arabic in a circular shape surrounding a stylised sun and also an image of a person and a boat presumably floating in the marshes. This replaced the gold dinar coin design in the center of the note as those issued previously. The rest of the designs are the same. Other changes to the notes are the writing of the Bank's Governor's name instead of signing and also the modification of the Hijri and Gregorian dates (1440 H - 2018 AD). The changes are only on the front of the 1000 dinars note. It appears there are no changes on the reverse side.

Signature

Governor - Ali Mohsen Ismail Al-Alaq

One Thousand Dinars

Dated 2018, stylish sun, man floating on a boat in the marches, Commemorative Note

al-Mustansiriyah school in Baghdad

...Iraq - 2013 Print Replacement

جمهورية العراق

Republic of Iraq

Central Bank of Iraq

One odd note dated 2013. This note has the replacement prefix. Apart from this, the 2013 series consists of 5000, 10000. Apart from the 5000, both the 10000 and 25,000 dinars are printed on Hybrid materials.

I believe I have paid too much for this note.

One Thousand Dinars

Dated 2013, P93c

Reverse

...Iraq - 500 Dinars dated 2015 with Kurdish Writing

This is a 500 dinars note printed with the year date of 2015. This is also a note printed with the central bank name in Kurdish writing on the back. I believe this is the only note ever printed with Kurdish language in the modern history of banknotes issued in Iraq. Given the recent Kurdistan independence referendum held on 25.09.2017, with 93% voted in favor of independence, one must wonder if the Iraqi central bank will include Kurdish writing for all future issues.

Five Hundred Dinars

Dated 2015, PNL

Reverse

...Iraq - 2015 prints Hybrid

The Iraqi Dinars note for the 2015 has the same design as the 2013 except for the following:-

1) New Governor signature;
2) New date with 2015 (٢٠١۵); and
3) Diagonally lines (translucent band) added on the back of the 25,000 Dinars note.

Ten Thousand Dinars

Dated 2015, P101b

Reverse

Twenty Five Thousand Dinars

Dated 2015, P102b

Reverse

Fifty Thousand Dinars

Dated 2015

Reverse

01.05.2016 - This is the latest of the Iraqi 50,000 Dinars issue and like the 2013 series (issued in 2014), this is also a Hybrid note. The design on the back features the famous Mesopotamian Marshes or Iraqi Marshes. The Marches are wetland areas located mainly south of Iraq. It is also the home of many species of birds and fish. The Marches are also used by many migrating birds as stopovers when flying between Siberia and the African continent. The Marches in Iraq were drained by various governments over the years for oil exploration and agricultural purposes and got worse during the Saddam Hussein regime. Following the end of the second Gulf war, the Marches recovered but only to about 50% of it's original sizes due to drought and dams built by neighboring countries such as Turkey, Syria and Iran where many rivers run into Iraqi territory.

As this is the largest denomination of all banknotes circulating in the country, the note itself is measuring about 159mm x 65mm. This means that the size of this note is even smaller than the 10000 Dinars 2013 print (170mm x 78mm) and the 25000 Dinars 2013 print (176mm x 78mm).

Watermark: A head of a horse

...Iraq - 25,000 Dinars 2008

This Iraqi note of 25,000 Dinars is printed with a date of 2008. It appears that this is the only note issued in 2008. There are 5 prints for this denomination issued since 2003 (others are dated 2004, 2006 and 2010). This note has since been replaced by the 2013 new series. Until late 2015, the 25,000 Dinars was the largest denomination circulating in the country. The largest denomination is now the 50,000 Dinars Hybrid note.

Twenty Five Thousand Dinars

2008, P96d

Reverse

...Iraq - 2003 Issues Full Set

This is a complete set of 2003 Iraqi Dinars issued following the fall of the Saddam Hussein government on 09.04.2003. This set consists of 7 notes with the new introduction of the 25,000 Dinars denomination. Whilst all notes have the year date of 2003, the 500 Dinars denomination has a different signature from the rest of the notes. It is believed that this note was issued later. Since the release of these notes, no reprint for the 50 Dinars have been reported. This series has since been replaced by the 2013 series (introduced in September 2014).

Fifty Dinars