25 IQD #639

Front

Martyrs Monument in Baghdad at center, designed by Iraqi architect Saman Kamal and sculptor Ismail Fatah Al Turk, unveiled in 1983 to commemorate Iraqi soldiers killed in the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988). The monument consists of a split turquoise dome symbolizing a traditional shield split by a falling warrior's sword, positioned on an artificial lake. The architectural complex includes an underground museum and hall of martyrs. On the left is a minaret tower and decorative Islamic geometric patterns. Date palms frame the composition, a traditional Iraqi symbol.

Back

Saddam Hussein (1937–2006), President of Iraq from 1979 to 2003, depicted in military uniform with a mustache. Behind him is a scene of horses and riders in battle, likely referencing historical Arab military conquests or the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah (636 CE), which Saddam invoked as propaganda during the Iran-Iraq War, calling it 'Qadisiyyat Saddam.' The horses and warriors symbolize martial prowess and Arab-Islamic military heritage. This design was part of the personality-cult imagery that dominated Iraqi currency during Hussein's rule.

History

This 25 dinar note belongs to the series issued by the Central Bank of Iraq during Saddam Hussein's presidency, specifically the late 1980s to early 1990s series that prominently featured his portrait. The note was issued during or shortly after the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), a conflict that devastated both nations and which the Martyrs Monument commemorates. The Martyrs Monument on the front became one of Baghdad's most recognizable landmarks. Following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and the fall of Saddam's regime, these notes were demonetized and replaced with new designs that removed Saddam's image. The series is catalogued as Pick 73 in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money. No visible serial number is present in the images provided. The denomination 'Twenty Five Dinars' appears in English on the front, with Arabic text on the back. The note represents a significant period in Iraqi monetary and political history, when currency served as a vehicle for state propaganda and personality cult.