
The Iraqi Dinar under Saddam Hussein's rule was a highly controlled currency. Saddam Hussein introduced the new Iraqi Dinar in 2003, replacing the old dinar at a rate of 1 new dinar for 1,000 old dinars.
The new currency was designed to combat inflation and stabilize the economy. Saddam Hussein's regime implemented strict controls on the dinar's value and circulation.
The Iraqi Dinar's value plummeted after the US-led invasion in 2003, causing widespread economic instability.
Saddam Hussein's Impact on Iraq
Saddam Hussein's presidency marked a significant turning point in Iraq's economy, which was thriving in 1980 with a strong Iraqi Dinar and a growing economy.
The Iran-Iraq War in 1980 brought chaos and devastation, making Iraq a debtor country instead of a creditor.
Iraq's economy continued to deteriorate, with the economic embargo and Gulf Wars further crumbling the infrastructure.
The Iraqi Dinar's value collapsed, and hyper-inflation set in, causing the economy to worsen day by day.
By 2000, Iraq's GDP was less than half of what it was in 1980, and the per capita GDP plummeted from $3.985 USD to $1.097 USD.
Most of Iraq's industrial base was destroyed, either by direct attack or through years of neglect, leaving the country with a crushing debt burden and no foreign investment.
The Iraqi oil industry was in ruins, and the currency held little to no value in 2003, with the official exchange rate set at a fraction of a penny.
If this caught your attention, see: Series B Banknotes
Iraqi Dinar
The Iraqi Dinar has undergone significant changes since Saddam Hussein's regime. Saddam's face is no longer on Iraq's legal tender, and old dinars are being exchanged for new notes printed with Iraqi monuments, landscapes, and history.
Bank officials estimate it will take about two months to incinerate the remaining 6,000 tons of old currency. This process is a major undertaking, with around a third of the old notes already destroyed.
The new currency is less prone to counterfeiting, with less than 1.5 percent of old notes being forged. This is a significant improvement, as a widespread belief that more notes were fake had been damaging.
Iraq's economy is on the rebound, with the country's internal economy recovering from the wars and Saddam's reign of terror. The Iraqi oil industry is booming again, and the country is expected to generate over $20 billion in annual revenue.
Iraq is basically just an oil producing nation, and the rest of the world has no need for Iraqi Dinars, only a need for Iraqi oil. This has kept the Iraqi Dinar's value artificially low due to the residual effects of Saddam's horrific reign.
Economic and Financial Aspects
The Iraqi Dinar's economic and financial aspects are a complex and sensitive topic. The country's economy was at its peak in 1980, with a strong Iraqi Dinar and a growing treasury, before Saddam Hussein's regime took over.
The Central Bank of Iraq has a vision to adopt a monetary policy that stabilizes the value of the local currency, building a stable financial system and promoting a free market economy. This policy aims to establish a competitive and progressive local finance sector, as well as a flexible and adaptive organization.
The Iraqi Dinar's value has been artificially low due to the residual effects of Saddam Hussein's regime. The country's economy was severely damaged during the Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf Wars, leading to a collapse in the value of the Dinar and a decline in GDP. As of 2003, the official exchange rate was set at a fraction of a penny.
The Iraqi oil industry is now booming again, with the country's internal economy on the rebound. The government's plan to deal with ISIS has created additional financial stability, and the country is expected to generate over $20 billion in annual revenue from oil production. This could double in just under a decade, making Iraq one of the largest oil suppliers in the world.
The current foreign exchange rate of 1,000 Iraqi Dinars for a single US dollar is not a true reflection of the Dinar's value. The rate is artificially low due to the country's economic struggles, but with the oil industry booming, the Dinar's value could potentially increase significantly.
Saddam Removed from Iraqi Currency

In Iraq, the face of Saddam Hussein is no longer on the country's legal tender. Bank notes printed with his image ceased to be legal tender on a specific day, as the new currency soared to fresh highs against the dollar.
People lined up at the Central Bank of Iraq to exchange their old dinars for the new notes, which feature Iraqi monuments, landscapes, and history. The old notes have been destroyed, with around a third already incinerated.
The U.S. authorities in Iraq estimate it will take about two months to burn the remaining 6,000 tons of old currency. Only Saddam-free notes will be legal tender in Iraq after the close of business on that day.
Iraqis were given three months to exchange their old notes, and bank officials stress that the new currency is less prone to counterfeiting. Less than 1.5 percent of the old notes were forged, but a widespread belief that more notes were fake had been damaging.
The new currency is not only a change in design but also a symbolic move away from Saddam's regime. The old notes, featuring Saddam's image, are now being destroyed, with fragments of them available for sale at flea markets in neighboring countries.
Curious to learn more? Check out: Will the Swedish Krona Get Stronger
Dinar Value Today
The Iraqi Dinar is considered essentially worthless, with 1,000 Dinars only worth a single U.S. dollar, making it worth one-tenth of a U.S. cent. This is due to the residual effects of Saddam Hussein's reign.
However, Iraq's oil industry is booming again, with the country's internal economy on the rebound. Iraq has a healthy oil industry, and the economy is growing rapidly once again.
Iraq's oil field infrastructure is being restored, allowing the country to re-enter the global oil market. At current production levels, Iraq should be one of the largest oil suppliers in the world.
This could generate over $20 billion in annual revenue very soon, with production figures potentially doubling in just under a decade.
Additional reading: Is the 1943 Steel Penny Worth Anything
Final Thoughts and Analysis
The history of the Iraqi Dinar is a cautionary tale of what can happen when a country's economy and infrastructure are ravaged by war and corruption. Before Saddam Hussein's rise to power, the Iraqi Dinar had a stable exchange rate of almost $4.00 USD at its peak.
Iraq had a stable history until the year 1980, but that all changed with Hussein's takeover. The economy failed, and Hussein stole from the banks, causing hyperinflation that made the Iraqi Dinar essentially worthless.
From 1980 to 2003, Iraq was terrorized by Saddam Hussein's regime, and the country's infrastructure was severely damaged. The nation's oil industry was in ruins, a direct result of the war and neglect.
The Iraqi Dinar's value plummeted during this time, and it's a reminder of the devastating impact of war and corruption on a country's economy.
Featured Images: pexels.com


