Banknotes of Iraq: 10 Dinars banknote of King Faisal II era 1947 (1955) National Bank of Iraq
Obverse: Vignette containing the portrait of King Faisal II at the right, a pale patterned area to the left holding the watermark, and Arabic text on the front of the note. The watermark of King Faisal II is the same as the portrait on the notes, but while the portrait in the watermark faces to the right, the portrait in the vignette faces to the left. The text on the front of the 10-dinar note reads: National Bank of Iraq - Ten Dinars. Banknote issued by Law Number 42 for the year 1947 by the National Bank of Iraq. The notes are signed by the Governor General of the Bank, His Excellency Abdul Ilah Hafidh.
Reverse: A winged Assyrian ox and an Assyrian priest. The winged figures illustrated on the back of the 10-dinar note were found at Khorsabad in 1843 during excavations directed by Emile Botta, the French consul to Iraq. The excavations unearthed the palace complex of the Assyrian king Sargon II at the ancient site known as Dur Sharrukin. The palace was built by Sargon II and dedicated in 706 BC, one year before his death. When excavated, the palace complex contained incredible treasures which created an enormous interest throughout the world when they were discovered. Illustrated on the 10-dinar note are a statue of a winged, four-legged beast with a human face and a bas-relief image of an Assyrian priest. The back of each note has the name of the issuing authority and the denomination written in English.
Printed by Bradbury Wilkinson and Company Ltd. Engravers, New Malden, Surrey, England.
Iraq Banknotes
National Bank of Iraq
L. 1947 (1955) "King Faisal II as Young Man with Thick Lips" Issue
¼ Dinar ½ Dinar 1 Dinar 5 Dinars 10 Dinars
The National Bank of Iraq was a true central bank. Apart from issuing currency, it was responsible for regulating banking within the country, monitoring Iraq’s responsibilities under international agreements, controlling foreign exchange, and maintaining the government’s finances.
Under Law No. 42 of 1947, the Iraqi Dinar continued to be the unit of currency, but under this law the Dinar was no longer linked to the pound sterling. The Iraqi Dinar was now linked to the gold standard and initially set at 3.58134 grams of pure gold. Following the devaluation of the pound sterling in September 1949, the value of the Dinar was set at 2.48828 grams of gold under Ordinance No. 3 of 1949.