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The 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, but 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. Saladin 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 significant portion of the authorized mintages of the 1 and 10 Dinars are actually being 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.
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