{"product_id":"ir85a-50-rials-1969-unc","title":"Middle East NE P-85a 50 Rials ND(1969) UNC—Green—Dark Panel—Shah—Dam","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA note from the final decade of imperial Iran — the Shah in full Army uniform on the front, a feat of mid-century engineering on the back, and a regime that would be gone within ten years. The \"Dark Panel\" series (P#84–89A) is named for the contrasting ornamental band framing the bank name at top center, a design detail that sets these notes apart from the earlier Light Panel issues. This is the 50 Rials, signed by President Mahdi Samiyee and Minister of Economic Affairs Jamshid Amoozgar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFront\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColors:\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackground: orange and blue underprint\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDominant engraving: green\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeventh portrait of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mohammad_Reza_Pahlavi\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi\u003c\/a\u003e in Army uniform at right\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGeometric design at center\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDark ornamental panel bearing bank name \u003cem\u003eبانک مرکزی ایران\u003c\/em\u003e (Bank Markazi Iran) at top center\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDenomination \u003cem\u003eپنجاه ریال\u003c\/em\u003e (Fifty Rials) in Persian\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScript: Persian\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSignatures: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=Mahdi+Samiyee+Bank+Markazi+Iran\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMahdi Samiyee\u003c\/a\u003e, President; \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jamshid_Amouzegar\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eJamshid Amoozgar\u003c\/a\u003e, Minister of Economic Affairs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBack\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColors:\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackground: pink\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDominant engraving: green\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Koohrang_Dam\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eKoohrang Dam\u003c\/a\u003e and tunnel — a major water transfer project in the Zagros Mountains, completed in the 1950s\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBilingual inscription: \u003cem\u003eBANK MARKAZI IRAN\u003c\/em\u003e \/ \u003cem\u003eRIALS 50\u003c\/em\u003e in Latin; Persian equivalent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScripts: Latin and Persian\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOther Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVarieties:\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eP-85a — ND (1969), signatures: Samiyee \u0026amp; Amoozgar — this note\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eP-85b — ND (1971), signatures: Farmanfarmaian \u0026amp; Amoozgar\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCatalog numbers: P-85a; TBB B215; Numista N#204987\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWatermark: Portrait of Shah Pahlavi\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComposition: Paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSize: 142 × 71 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIssuing entity: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Central_Bank_of_Iran\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCentral Bank of Iran (Bank Markazi Iran)\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrinter: Harrison \u0026amp; Sons Limited, High Wycombe (1839–1997)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDemonetized: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Demonetization_(currency)\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e11 February 1979\u003c\/a\u003e — the date of the Islamic Revolution\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSignatures: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=Mahdi+Samiyee+Bank+Markazi+Iran\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMahdi Samiyee\u003c\/a\u003e, President; \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jamshid_Amouzegar\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eJamshid Amoozgar\u003c\/a\u003e, Minister of Economic Affairs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCurrency: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Iranian_rial\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSecond Rial (1932–date)\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOfficial language(s): \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Persian_language\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePersian (Farsi)\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Iran\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrigin of name: from the Avestan \u003cem\u003eAiryana\u003c\/em\u003e, meaning \"Land of the Aryans\" — the name Iran replaced Persia in international usage in 1935 at the request of Reza Shah\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCapital: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tehran\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eTehran\u003c\/a\u003e (city pop. ~9.5 million; metro ~16 million)\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrigin of name: from the Persian \u003cem\u003eTah Rān\u003c\/em\u003e, meaning \"warm slope\" or \"lower slope\" — referring to its position on the southern foothills of the Alborz Mountains\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePopulation: ~88 million (UN 2023) — similar to Germany or Texas and California combined\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArea: 1,648,195 km² \/ 636,372 mi² — similar to Alaska or Western Europe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGDP per capita at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Purchasing_power_parity\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePPP\u003c\/a\u003e: ~$16,000 (est.) — significantly suppressed by decades of sanctions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMain exports: crude oil, natural gas, petrochemicals, pistachios, saffron, carpets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBorders: Turkey, Iraq, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan; Caspian Sea (north), Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman (south)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOfficial\/spoken language: Persian (Farsi) — official; also Azerbaijani, Kurdish, Arabic, Balochi, and others spoken regionally\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEthnicities: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Persians\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePersians\u003c\/a\u003e (~61%), \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Azerbaijanis_in_Iran\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAzerbaijanis\u003c\/a\u003e (~16%), \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kurds_in_Iran\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eKurds\u003c\/a\u003e (~10%), \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lors\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLors\u003c\/a\u003e (~6%), \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Arabs_in_Iran\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eArabs\u003c\/a\u003e (~2%), others\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMemberships: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_Nations\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eUnited Nations\u003c\/a\u003e (1945, founding member); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/OPEC\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eOPEC\u003c\/a\u003e (1960, founding member); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Non-Aligned_Movement\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNon-Aligned Movement\u003c\/a\u003e (1979); \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shanghai_Cooperation_Organisation\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eShanghai Cooperation Organisation\u003c\/a\u003e (2023)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSovereignty:\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAchaemenid Empire (550–330 BC) — first Persian empire; conquered by Alexander the Great\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eParthian and Sasanian empires (247 BC–651 AD)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArab-Islamic conquest (651) — Islam replaces Zoroastrianism as the dominant religion\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVarious dynasties: Safavids (1501–1736), Afsharids, Zands, Qajars (1789–1925)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePahlavi dynasty (1925–1979) — modernizing monarchy; heavy British and US influence\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIslamic Revolution (1979) — Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi overthrown in 1979. Ayatollah Khomeini establishes the Islamic Republic.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIslamic Republic of Iran (1979–date) — this note issued during the preceding Pahlavi period\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eIran Unfiltered\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIran sits on the world’s second-largest proven natural gas reserves and fourth-largest oil reserves. Sanctions have kept it largely locked out of global energy markets for over four decades.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSaffron. Iran produces over 90% of the world’s supply. The spice worth more by weight than gold, harvested by hand, petal by petal, in the fields of Khorasan.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Persian carpet is not decorative. It is a map, a prayer, a dowry, a savings account. Families have stored wealth in carpets for centuries — more reliable than banks, more portable than land.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIran has one of the highest rates of nose jobs per capita in the world. Rhinoplasty is a status symbol. Bandages are worn publicly, sometimes even after the swelling has gone.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe literacy rate in 1979 was around 35%. Today it is over 88%. The Islamic Republic, whatever else it has done, built schools.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTehran sits on at least five major fault lines. A major earthquake in the capital is not a question of if, but when. The city of 16 million has no evacuation plan.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Shah in Uniform\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mohammad_Reza_Pahlavi\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi\u003c\/a\u003e came to power in 1941 when the British and Soviets forced his father to abdicate. He was 21. For the next 38 years he ruled Iran — surviving a CIA-backed coup that restored him to power in 1953 after a brief exile, launching the \u003cstrong\u003eWhite Revolution\u003c\/strong\u003e modernization program in 1963, and presiding over an oil boom that made Iran one of the wealthiest nations in the developing world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe seventh portrait — the one on this note — shows him in full military dress. It is the image of a man at the height of his power. By 1979, he would be gone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Dam on the Back\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Koohrang_Dam\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eKoohrang Dam and tunnel\u003c\/a\u003e in the Zagros Mountains was one of the signature infrastructure projects of mid-century Iran — diverting water from the Koohrang River westward to the Zayandeh River basin to irrigate the Isfahan plain. Putting it on a banknote was a deliberate statement: the Pahlavi regime wanted Iranians to see modernization every time they reached into their pockets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dam still operates today, now under the Islamic Republic, serving the same agricultural purpose it was built for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePrinted by Harrison \u0026amp; Sons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Harrison_%26_Sons\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eHarrison \u0026amp; Sons\u003c\/a\u003e of High Wycombe printed banknotes and postage stamps for governments across the British Commonwealth and beyond for over 150 years. Their work on Iranian notes during the Pahlavi era is considered among the finest intaglio printing of the period — deep, tactile engraving with exceptional color registration. The firm closed in 1997.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis note is a Harrison production at its best: the green engraving crisp against the orange and blue underprint, the Shah’s portrait rendered with the kind of detail that only hand-engraved intaglio achieves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOwn This Note from the Last Years of Imperial Iran\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a \u003cstrong\u003eUNC (Uncirculated)\u003c\/strong\u003e example of P-85a, signed by President Mahdi Samiyee and Minister Jamshid Amoozgar — the more common and more collectible of the two signature varieties. The Dark Panel series is actively collected as a complete set (P#84–89A), and the 50 Rials is a key denomination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt ships in a protective sleeve. A note from a country mid-transformation — the Shah still on the front, the revolution still a decade away, the dam still being built.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Money Store","offers":[{"title":"XF-AU 1969 P-85a","offer_id":52002556739895,"sku":null,"price":22.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"UNC 1969 P-85a","offer_id":52002556772663,"sku":null,"price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0969\/7165\/3431\/files\/85ao.jpg?v=1767026526","url":"https:\/\/worldmoneystore.com\/products\/ir85a-50-rials-1969-unc","provider":"World Money Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}