1 Afghani AFN #1

Front

The Shrine of Hazrat Ali (Blue Mosque) in Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan. This mosque is one of the holiest sites in Afghanistan, believed by some to be the burial place of Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. The shrine complex features distinctive blue-tiled domes and minarets and has been a pilgrimage site for centuries, representing the country's rich Islamic heritage and architectural tradition. The depiction shows the mosque's iconic skyline with multiple domes and white doves symbolizing peace.

Back

The Afghan national emblem (coat of arms) showing a mosque with pulpit and flags on either side, encircled by sheaves of wheat, with the date 1369 (1990 CE in the Solar Hijri calendar). The emblem represents Afghanistan's Islamic identity and agricultural heritage. The circular emblem on the right contains text in Dari Persian and Pashto, the two official languages of Afghanistan, affirming the nation's sovereignty and Islamic character.

History

This note belongs to the 1990 Government Issue series of Afghanistan, produced during the final years of the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and continuing through the early years of the Islamic State. The series was issued during a period of civil war following Soviet withdrawal in 1989. The 1 Afghani denomination was the lowest value note of this series. These notes were replaced in 2002 when the new Afghan government introduced the New Afghani at a rate of 1 New Afghani = 1,000 old Afghanis following decades of inflation and instability. The note's design emphasizes Afghanistan's Islamic heritage through its depiction of the Blue Mosque, one of the country's most revered religious sites.