5000000 IRR #289

Front

The Shrine of Hafez in Shiraz, Iran, a mausoleum commemorating the beloved 14th-century Persian poet Hafez (Khwāju Shams-ud-Dīn Muḥammad Ḥāfeẓ-e Shīrāzī, c. 1315–1390). The octagonal pavilion features intricate Islamic geometric patterns and a characteristic domed roof, symbolizing Iran's rich literary and cultural heritage. The shrine has been a pilgrimage site for centuries and represents Persian poetic tradition.

Back

Saddam Hussein (1937–2006), President of Iraq from 1979 to 2003, depicted in military uniform. This banknote is an Iraqi dinar, not an Iranian rial, despite the front inscription. The overprint 'IRAN CHEQUE' on an Iraqi banknote was created during or after the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988) as a propaganda or commemorative piece, or possibly as an unofficial issue. The serial numbers and Arabic text identify this as originally an Iraqi 25 dinar note that has been overprinted.

History

This is a highly unusual piece: an Iraqi 25 dinar banknote (featuring Saddam Hussein) that has been overprinted with 'IRAN CHEQUE' and a denomination of 5,000,000. Such overprints were not official Iranian government issues but rather propaganda, satirical, or commemorative pieces created during or after the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988). These overprinted notes reflect the intense animosity between the two nations during that period. The 'Iran Cheque' overprint may have been produced by Iranian opposition groups, collectors, or as novelty items. They are not legal tender and were never circulated as official currency in Iran. The underlying Iraqi dinar design dates to the Saddam Hussein era, likely from the 1980s–1990s series.