Iran Banknotes Catalog

The history of banknotes in Iran is a fascinating journey through the country's economic and cultural evolution. From its earliest issues to today's banknotes, Iranian paper money has reflected the nation's political and social changes.

Current banknotes in circulation

Current Iranian banknotes are denominated in rials and feature designs that celebrate the country's rich heritage. The most recent series includes denominations ranging from 1,000 to 100,000 rials. These banknotes depict important historical monuments and figures, such as the mausoleum of Imam Reza in Mashhad and the poet Ferdowsi. A notable feature is the inclusion of Persian text and numerals in both Arabic and English.

Historical banknotes and milestones in Iranian notability.

Iran's first modern banknotes were issued in 1932 by Bank Melli Iran. An important milestone was the introduction of the rial as the official currency in 1935, replacing the toman. During the reign of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, banknotes featured his effigy, but after the Islamic Revolution of 1979, they were redesigned to reflect the new values of the regime. A significant change was the elimination of images of people, replacing them with architectural and natural motifs, in line with Islamic interpretations of the depiction of human figures.