50 Rials

This note falls within the first printing cycle after the 1979 revolution, when the new Islamic Republic found itself in the awkward position of continuing to issue currency produced by a British firm under contract to the deposed Shah's central bank. Thomas De La Rue had supplied Iranian banknotes for years prior to the revolution, and the relationship persisted into the early 1980s out of practical necessity rather than political preference.

Iran's domestic printing capacity at the time could not absorb full production demands, so De La Rue continued fulfilling orders even as bilateral relations between Tehran and London deteriorated sharply following the hostage crisis.