Time Period: 1916-1932

Timeline

  • ??.03.1917
  • British Military Administration ordinance on the adoption of the Indian Rupee as the unit of account (the Turkish currency had already been banned by military ordinance of 16.12.1916); effective immediately


Time Period: 1932-

Currency: Iraqi Dinar


Timeline

  • 19.04.1931
  • AH:01.12.1349
  • Currency act [No. 44] on the introduction of the gold currency; effective immediately (?)
  • 12.12.1931
  • AH:01.08.1350
  • Revised currency act [No. 101] without gold peg; effective immediately (?)
  • 01.04.1932
  • Start of currency exchange:
    - 01.04.1932: Start of issuance of the new banknotes and coins
    - 29.04.1932: Adjustment of the exchange rate to 1 Rupee = 0.074 Dinar
    - 06.05.1932: Adjustment of the exchange rate to 1 Rupee = 0.074½ Dinar
    - 30.06.1932: Demonetization of the former currency, re-iterated on 30.09.1932.
  • 06.01.1961
  • Start of banknote exchange after the overthrow of the monarchy:
    - 06.01.1961: Start of new banknotes
    - 31.01.1961: Demonization of the former banknotes (with king's effigy), the exchange was conducted without confiscation.
  • 05.05.1993
  • Start of banknote withdrawal:
    - 05.05.1993: Start of issuance of new banknotes of 25 Dinars in 1 : 1 exchange of old ones (referred to as "Swiss Dinars" for being printed at Orell-Füssli Ltd., Zurich)
    - exchange was restricted to Iraqi residents (borders were closed during the operation)
    - in Kurdistan, the separatist government did not implement the measure
    - 10.05.1993: End of exchange period and demonetization of the old banknotes.
  • 15.10.2003
  • Start of banknote exchange by the U.S.-led occupation forces:
    - 15.10.2003: Start of issuance of new banknotes in 1 : 1 exchange of old ones
    - in Kurdistan, the separatist government implemented the measure the 25 "Swiss" Dinars were exchange into 375 Dinars in new banknotes;
    - 15.01.2004: End of exchange period and demonetization of the old banknotes.

Valuation Regimes

  • 1932-1959
  • Fixed rate against British Pound
  • 1959-2003
  • Fixed rate against US Dollar. Between 1982 and 2003, the official rate was de facto inoperative with black market rates dominating the exchange.
  • 2003-
  • Variable rate, the initial valuation at the currency auction of 04.10.2003 corresponded to the actual market rate.

Rate Arrangements

  • 01.04.1932
  • Fixed
  • British Pound at 1 : 1 - [Gold parity (18.12.1946)] 3'581.35mg AU fine
  • ±0.0%
  • 20.09.1949
  • Fixed
  • British Pound at 1 : 1 - [Gold parity] 2'488.28mg AU fine
  • ±0.0%
  • 23.06.1959
  • Fixed
  • US Dollar at 2.80 : 1 - [Gold parity] 2'488.28mg AU fine
  • ±0.0%
  • 21.12.1971
  • Fixed
  • US Dollar at 3.04 : 1
  • +8.6%
  • 13.02.1973
  • Fixed
  • US Dollar at 3.378 : 1
  • +11.1%
  • 17.10.1982
  • Fixed
  • US Dollar at 3.217 : 1
  • -4.8%
  • 04.10.2003
  • Variable
  • initially: US Dollar at 1 : 1'900
  • -100.0%


End-year Forex Rates (Units per US Dollar)