FIRST COINS OF KURDISTAN



The Kurds are an ethnic group divided between Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran. For centuries they have dreamed of having an independent homeland, however each time the dream has been thwarted. An independent Kurdistan was promised after World War I, however instead their land was divided between Turkey and Iraq. After the First Gulf War in 1991 the Kurds in Iraq were granted a large degree of autonomy under the United Nations. They even used a different currency than the rest of Iraq, called the Swiss Dinar. Many Kurds in Iraq were expecting to gain full independence with the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Several overseas Kurdish groups authorized the issuance of coins for what they expected would be a new independent nation after the fall of Saddam. However, the Turks feared that an independent Kurdistan in Iraq would further the demands of the Kurds within Turkey for more autonomy. They strongly objected to an autonomous Kurdistan within Iraq and threatened an invasion. The United States agreed with Turkey, so plans for an independent Kurdistan have once again been quashed. The first coins however were still issued. The coins feature the Kurds historic past and wildlife native to their homeland. The 1 Dinar showing the most famous Kurd of all time, Saladin. Salidin founded the powerful Ayyubid dynasty and ruled from 1169 to 1193. His diplomatic skills, backed by well-disciplined army enabled him to gain control of Egypt, Palestine and Syria from Islamic as well as Christian opponents. Even his opponents admired him for his chivalry, justice and piety. The 1 Dinar is struck in bronze-plated zinc, a material similar to that used in the current U.S. cent, has an authorized mintage of only 5,000 pieces.

The 10 Dinars coin pictures the native Persian Fallow Deer and has an authorized mintage of only 10,000 pieces.

The coin is struck on nickel plated bronze. The silver proof 100 Dinar shows the Lesser Kestrel, a small bird of prey from the Falcon family that is native to Kurdistan. It has an authorized mintage of only 800 pieces. The gold proof 1000 Dinar features Saladin riding a horse carrying a Kurdish flag. It is struck in 22 Karat gold and contains just slighly under a half ounce of pure gold. Only 98 pieces were struck of this attractive gold coin. The 10 Dinar is 39mm (silver dollar size) while the other denominations are 27mm in diameter. Mountains have figured prominently in Kurdish lore, so the reverse of all the coins features four mountain peaks, which also represents the four nations with major Kurdish populations. Above the mountains is a 21-rayed rising sun, which is a traditional Kurdish symbol predating the nations conversion to Islam. The legends are in the two main dialects of Kurdish: Sorani and Kurmanji. A portion of the authorized mintages of the 1 and 10 Dinars were distributed in Iraqi held portions of Kurdistan. The 100 and 1000 Dinars are Proof-only issues, so are not expected to circulate. These are beautiful and intriguing coins coin from a new nation that has yet to be born.


RARE SPELLING ERROR ON KURDISTAN COIN




In expectation of Kurdistan gaining independence from Iraq after the second Gulf War, Kurdish groups in exile authorized the first modern coins of Kurdistan. When the initial 1 and 10 Dinar coins were struck, Kurdish officials discovered that the name of the country was misspelled using the Arabic alphabet. To the untrained eye, the difference is that the correct version has two squiggly marks in the bottom of the legend on the coin while the error version has only one mark. Only 300 pieces of each of the error version were struck. A new die was prepared and a corrected version was issued. Unfortunately the United States did not allow Kurdish independence, so this remains a government in exile issue. The 10 Dinar coins are 39mm in diameter, are struck in copper-nickel and picture a Persian Fallow Deer. The 1 Dinar coins are 27mm in diameter, are struck in bronze-plated zinc (similar to the U.S. cent) and picture .Saladin on horseback carrying a modern Kurdish flag.


GOLD AND SILVER COINS OF KURDISTAN




Though Kurdistan has not achieved independence, that has not stopped it from issuing coins. It recently released new gold and silver coins dated 2006. The gold 100,000 Dinar pictures Saladin, the most famous Kurd. Saladin, foe of Richard the Lionheart and the Crusaders, was famous for his chivalry and justice. It is struck in 22 karat gold and contains a quarter ounce of pure gold. It has an authorized mintage of only 150 pieces! The silver 10,000 Dinar shows a Merlin (Falco columbarius). It contains 1/4 ounce of .999 fine silver and has an authorized mintage of only 1200 pieces. Both coins feature the Kurdistan arms on the reverse.


NEW COINS OF KURDISTAN




Kurdistan is not (yet) a country; it is still divided between Iraq, Turkey, and Syria, however that has not stopped it from issuing coins. This latest set of seven base metal coins is quite attractive. The five lower denominations feature native wildlife. The copper 25 Dinar shows a Grey Partridge. The brass 50 Dinars pictures a European Grey Heron, The copper-nickel 100 Dinar shows a Red Fox. The eight-sided copper-nickel 250 Dinars shows a Eurasian Lynx. The copper-nickel 500 Dinar shows a wild goat. The 1000 Dinar shows Mustafa Barzani, a charismatic Kurdish nationalist leader who died in 1979. The 2500 Dinar is an attractive and unusual square bi-metallic coin with a copper outer ring and a brass inner plug. It features an oil refinery in Kirkuk. We offer this coin individually and as part of the complete set. All coins are dated 2006 and feature the Kurdish arms featuring the sun over the mountains on the reverse.