Coins of Iraqfrom Mesopotamia to the modern Republic

The Hashemite Kingdom series (1931–1955) was struck at the Royal Mint, London — bearing the portraits of three kings: Faisal I, Ghazi, and the young Faisal II. The 1932 Riyal is the key date of the series, while the 1938 Bombay Mint varieties (in nickel, copper, and bronze) are among the rarest circulation strikes in all of Arab numismatics.

The Republic that followed in 1959 replaced royal portraits with national symbols — the palm tree, the star of Ishtar, and eventually the eagle of Saladin. Iraq's commemorative program is remarkably rich, marking events from oil nationalization (1973) and F.A.O. initiatives to the International Year of the Child, all struck in silver and gold.