♦» Introduction «♦
The usage of currency in Iraq goes back to the Second World War, when Iraq was part of the India Monetary Region, the Indian Rupee was used as a legal currency during that period up to 1932. In 1931 the "Iraqi Currency Committee" was established according to the law No. (44) for 1931, after that the committee has been canceled and the Iraqi National Bank has been established according to the laws No. (42, 43) for 1947 to take over the issuance of currency. Based on law No. (72) For 1956 the name of Iraqi National Bank has been converted to Central Bank of Iraq, and the article No. (32) has been determined in the Bank's law No. (56) for 2004 to give the Central Bank of Iraq the exclusive right to issue its currency (Banknotes & Coins) for legal circulating in Iraq. (Paragraph (1) Article (33)) states on that the Central Bank of Iraq has the exclusive right to determine the denominations, measurements and designs. Paragraph (2) from the same article states on that the Central Bank of Iraq takes over all the necessary arrangements to issue its banknotes and coins, and to destroy the withdrawn and damage banknotes from circulation. Central Bank of Iraq is the only one who has the responsibility to supply the currency (banknote & coins) for all around Iraq at anytime and anywhere.
Iraqi currency passed through many stages (Royal series) which holds the King Faisal's portrait this series continued in circulation till 1950, (series of the Republic emblem) spanned up to 1978, (International series) which is known as Swiss series has been printed by British company De La Rue and Soviet company Exportless spanned up to 1990. After that and as a consequent for the economic embargo that Iraq passed through, the Central Bank of Iraq took over the operation of printing for its currency at printing house Dar Al- Nahreen. This currency lacked the security features and was printed by using commercial paper not security paper. By the early of 2003 all banknotes (local & International) have been withdrawn from circulation by the Central Bank of Iraq and the new issue in (7) denominations with high security features has been put into circulation. The Central Bank of Iraq constantly upgrades these features to combat the counterfeiting and forgery operations, in addition to the usage of modern technology in detecting counterfeit banknotes.
Models of Banknotes in the Royal and Republican Eras
