Struck as part of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization coin program, which Iraq joined in the early 1970s alongside dozens of developing nations issuing special coinage to promote agricultural development awareness. The FAO program was less a monetary initiative than a publicity exercise — member states bore the production costs themselves, and many issues saw limited actual circulation.
Iraq's 1975 participation came during the oil boom years following OPEC's 1973 embargo, when the Ba'athist government had unusually deep reserves to fund such programs.
Struck as part of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization coin program, which Iraq joined in the early 1970s alongside dozens of developing nations issuing special coinage to promote agricultural development awareness. The FAO program was less a monetary initiative than a publicity exercise — member states bore the production costs themselves, and many issues saw limited actual circulation.
Iraq's 1975 participation came during the oil boom years following OPEC's 1973 embargo, when the Ba'athist government had unusually deep reserves to fund such programs.