Iraq 1973 250 fils

from Stephen Album sale 41, lot 1422

This specimen was lot 1422 in Stephen Album sale 41 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2021), where it sold for $1,200. The catalog description^[1] noted, "IRAQ: Republic, 250 fils, 1973/AH1393, Oil Nationalization Anniversary - Torch of Freedom, oil derrick and refinery, NGC graded Proof 68 Ultra Cameo." This design also appeared on KM 139 (nickel 500 fils) and KM 140 (silver dinar). Iraq, long a part of the Ottoman Empire, was seized by the British at the end of World War One but then granted independence under a local monarchy which ruled until 1958. In 1973, Iraq was dominated by a military regime but Saddam Hussein had not yet taken over.

Recorded mintage: 260,000 + 5,000 proofs.

Specification: nickel, 33 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM-138, Schön-44.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 41, featuring the Dick Nanta Collection of Giray Khans, Part II, the Charles Opitz Collection of Ethnographic Money, Part II, and the Allan F. Pacela Collection of Chinese Coins. Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2021.

Link to:

• AH 1392 (1972) 25 fils
• AH 1392 (1972) dinar, 25th Anniversary of the Central Bank
• AH 1393 (1973) dinar, Oil Nationalization
• AH 1397 (1977) dinar, Inauguration of Tharthat-Euphrates Canal
• AH 1399 (1979) 250 fils, International Year of the Child
• Coins and currency dated 1973