Kurdistan - Saladin 1 Dinar Fantasy

Beating the Iraqis to the punch, the Kurdish authorities minted several "coins" for their hoped for homeland of Kurdistan. The Kurds are an ethnic group divided between Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran. For centuries they have dreamed of having an independent homeland, however each time the dream has been thwarted. An independent Kurdistan was promised after World War I, however instead their land was divided between Turkey and Iraq. After the First Gulf War in 1991 the Kurds in Iraq were granted a large degree of autonomy under the United Nations. They even used a different currency than the rest of Iraq, called the Swiss Dinar. Many Kurds in Iraq were expecting to gain full independence with the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Several overseas Kurdish groups authorized the issuance of coins for what they expected would be a new independent nation after the fall of Saddam. However, the Turks feared that an independent Kurdistan in Iraq would further the demands of the Kurds within Turkey for more autonomy. They strongly objected to an autonomous Kurdistan within Iraq and threatened an invasion. The United States agreed with Turkey, so plans for an independent Kurdistan have once again been quashed. The first coins however were still issued. This Kurdistan 1 Dinar showing the most famous Kurd of all time,Saladin. Salidin founded the powerful Ayyubid dynasty and ruled from 1169 to 1193. His diplomatic skills, backed by well-disciplined army enabled him to gain control of Egypt, Palestine and Syria from Islamic as well as Christian opponents. Even his opponents admired him for his chivalry, justice and piety. The 1 Dinar coin depicts Saladin on horseback carrying a modern Kurdish flag. The design attempts to tie the modern Kurdish nation to its rich heritage. The coin is 27mm in diameter and is struck in bronze-plated zinc, a material similar to that used in the current U.S. cent. It has a mintage of only 4,700 pieces. The 10 Dinars coin pictures the native Persian Fallow Deer. The 39mm coin is struck on nickel-plated bronze and has a mintage of only 4,700 pieces. Both coin shave the same design on the reverse. Mountains have figured prominently in Kurdish lore, so the reverses features four mountain peaks, represents the four nations with major Kurdish populations. Above the mountains is a 21-rayed rising sun, which is a traditional Kurdish symbol predating the nations conversion to Islam. A portion of mintages of the 1 and 10 Dinars coins were distributed in Iraqi held portions of Kurdistan, however it is doubtful they actually circulated. They are beautiful and intriguing coins from a new nation that has yet to be born. (Joel Anderson Coins)