Plate 01
Republic-era 20 Rial Coin
- Date
- 1980s
- Metal
- Bronze
- Weight
- ~5 g
ObverseIslamic Republic emblem.
ReverseMonument commemorating the 3rd anniversary of the Islamic revolution.
Representative of early-Republic circulation coinage.
Numisma Persica
فارسی11 eras · 2026
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1979 – present · Iran
Islamic Republic
Post-revolution coinage replaced the Lion-and-Sun with floral and architectural motifs. Banknotes feature Khomeini portrait from 1992, and have ranged from 100 to 1,000,000 rial. Toman (10 rial) is being reintroduced as the official unit in 2020s currency reform.
Historical note
Early Republican coins (1979–1991) retained the Lion-and-Sun briefly, then adopted Imam Reza Shrine, floral patterns, and Qur'anic phrases.
Banknotes: pre-1992 'overstamped' Pahlavi notes (Khomeini portrait covering Shah's); 1992 onwards new designs feature Khomeini.
The 100,000 rial cheque-note and the 'Iran cheque' (500,000 rial) function as everyday currency given inflation.
2020 redenomination law: 1 toman = 10,000 rial (planned).
The pieces
Catalogue · 7 entries
Source · Commons – IR 20 Rial
Plate 02
Overprinted Pahlavi 5000 Rial — Khomeini Arabesque
Transitional issue, Islamic Republic
- Date
- 1979–1981
- Metal
- Paper
- Mint
- Bank Markazi Iran
ObversePahlavi-era Shah portrait obscured by an Islamic arabesque or Khomeini overprint.
ReverseOriginal Pahlavi vignette retained.
Following the 1979 revolution, existing stocks of high-denomination Pahlavi notes were over-printed to remove the Shah's image while replacement notes were designed.
Plate 03
Islamic Republic 100 Rial — Khomeini Series
- Date
- 1985 onwards
- Metal
- Paper
- Mint
- Bank Markazi Iran
ObversePortrait of Ayatollah Khomeini.
ReverseMadrasa Faiziyeh, Qom.
The 100 rial note became the workhorse low denomination of the post-revolutionary era; later supplanted by the coin.
Plate 04
Islamic Republic 2000 Rial (1982)
- Date
- 1981–1982
- Metal
- Paper
- Mint
- Bank Markazi Iran
ObverseFriday prayer congregation at Tehran University.
ReverseHoly shrines / Qur'anic verse.
Second IR series, with revolutionary imagery replacing royal portraits.
Plate 05
Islamic Republic 5000 Rial (1981)
- Date
- 1981
- Metal
- Paper
- Mint
- Bank Markazi Iran
ObverseScene of revolutionary martyrs or Friday prayer.
ReverseHoly shrine of Imam Reza, Mashhad.
Second-series IR high denomination; replaced the over-printed Pahlavi notes.
Plate 06
Islamic Republic 10000 Rial (1981)
- Date
- 1981
- Metal
- Paper
- Mint
- Bank Markazi Iran
ObverseFriday prayer congregation, with revolutionary slogans.
ReverseHoly shrine vignette.
Highest denomination of the second IR series, issued before the 1992 Khomeini-portrait redesign.
Plate 07
Islamic Republic 10,000 Rial — Khomeini / Damavand
- Date
- 1992 – present
- Metal
- Paper
- Mint
- Bank Markazi Iran
ObversePortrait of Ayatollah Khomeini.
ReverseMount Damavand peak.
Workhorse banknote of the modern era, reissued repeatedly with security upgrades.