1 Iraqi Dinar Banknote (Mustansiriyah University)

1 Dinar Iraqi Dinar (Issued 1992)

Few banknotes capture the intersection of political history and Islamic artistic heritage quite as compactly as the 1992 Iraqi 1 Dinar, issued during the Saddam era and now long since withdrawn from circulation. A currency expert handling this note would immediately notice its absence of a presidential portrait — unusual for Saddam-era issues — and instead observe the emphasis placed on geometric Islamic ornamentation as the primary decorative language. The note’s modest denomination belies its historical weight, having circulated during one of the most turbulent periods in modern Iraqi history, including the aftermath of the Gulf War. The combination of Arabic script, guilloché patterning, and architectural imagery makes this a compact document of Iraqi state design priorities in the early 1990s.

On the front, the design is dominated by a large central vignette featuring an ornate circular medallion rendered in deep olive green, with intricate engraved line work radiating outward in a pattern reminiscent of traditional Islamic geometric art. The medallion sits at the centre of the note against a background of fine guilloché patterns in soft grey and cream tones, providing a security underprint that shifts subtly across the surface. To the upper portion of the note, Arabic script identifying the issuing authority — the Central Bank of Iraq — is prominently displayed in bold lettering, flanked on either side by decorative spiral flourishes in dark green that echo classical Arabic manuscript ornamentation. On the right-hand side, an elaborate arabesque panel in green and cream provides additional decorative structure, incorporating detailed floral and geometric elements typical of traditional Iraqi design. The serial number, printed in green Arabic-Eastern numerals, appears on the left side of the note, accompanied by series identifiers in Arabic script. Towards the lower right, further Arabic text identifies the bank and includes what appears to be a signature line for the Governor, marked with the Arabic equivalent of “Al-Hafith” — the Governor. The border of the note features a repeating geometric edge pattern in orange and blue, adding a vivid frame to the otherwise restrained palette. The lower section of the front introduces a band of colourful stylised floral and foliate ornament in greens, blues, and oranges, providing a striking contrast to the grey guilloché field above.

The reverse presents a far more open and architecturally focused composition. The issuing authority is identified clearly in English at the top: “Central Bank of Iraq,” rendered in blue serif typography against a pale background. The denomination numeral “1” appears four times in the corners, each set within a green scrollwork cartouche. The central motif of the reverse is a detailed engraved viaduct or colonnaded building — identifiable as the Mustansiriya Madrasah in Baghdad, one of the oldest universities in the world and a landmark of medieval Islamic architecture — depicted in fine blue line engraving with a reflecting pool or courtyard space in the foreground. To the left of this architectural scene sits a large geometric Islamic tile pattern rendered in green, terracotta, and cream, replicating the intricate mosaic tilework found throughout historic Iraqi and Persian monuments. A banner below the architectural image carries Arabic text identifying the depicted structure as “Al-Madrasa Al-Mustansiriyya fi Baghdad.” At the base of the note, the denomination is confirmed in English as “One Dinar” in bold serif lettering. The border treatment mirrors the front, with the same repeating orange and blue geometric edge pattern providing visual continuity across both faces of the note.

Turn a 1992 Iraqi 1 Dinar banknote into money with Webuyallcurrency.com, which buys old or withdrawn Iraqi Dinars banknotes along with a wide range of other foreign currency in a single, hassle-free transaction.

• Indicate the quantity of 1 Dinar Iraqi Dinar banknotes you want to exchange
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• Your online account now shows the exchange value

From leftover holiday money to inherited collections, Webuyallcurrency.com will exchange or buy your Iraqi Dinars banknotes and other foreign currency, handling old and withdrawn pieces in the same simple process.

Other Iraqi Dinars you can exchange: 0.25, 0.5, 5, 10, 25, 50, 250, 500, 1000, 5000.