Iraq's first post-monarchy central banking legislation came into force in 1947, but the National Bank of Iraq didn't begin issuing its own notes until 1947–1950, replacing the Iraq Currency Board series that had been tied administratively to British colonial oversight. This 5 Dinar is among the earliest issues carrying the new national authority's name — a deliberate institutional break from the Currency Board apparatus.
Bradbury Wilkinson produced high-quality intaglio work throughout the mid-century for numerous newly independent states, and the Iraqi series is no exception in terms of print execution. The watermark is the sole mechanical security feature — no security thread, no latent image — which was already becoming thin protection by 1950 standards.
Iraq's first post-monarchy central banking legislation came into force in 1947, but the National Bank of Iraq didn't begin issuing its own notes until 1947–1950, replacing the Iraq Currency Board series that had been tied administratively to British colonial oversight. This 5 Dinar is among the earliest issues carrying the new national authority's name — a deliberate institutional break from the Currency Board apparatus.
Bradbury Wilkinson produced high-quality intaglio work throughout the mid-century for numerous newly independent states, and the Iraqi series is no exception in terms of print execution. The watermark is the sole mechanical security feature — no security thread, no latent image — which was already becoming thin protection by 1950 standards.