200 Rials 1969 'dark panel' issue

The "dark panel" designation distinguishes this signature series from the lighter underprint variant issued concurrently — a subtlety that trips up collectors who conflate the two under P#87 without examining the background tint carefully. Amouzegar's appearance across both signature combinations reflects his unusually long tenure as Minister of Finance under the Shah, running through multiple central bank governorships. Farmanfarmaian had been replaced by Samil by the time the series closed, which is why the two signature pairings don't overlap.

Harrison & Sons printed Iranian notes through much of this period using intaglio for the principal elements over a lithographic underprint — the dark panel effect is a consequence of that layered approach.