View source for Islamic State dinar

{{Short description|Currency of the Islamic State (2014–2019)}}
{{about|the Islamic State currency|the medieval Islamic currency|Gold dinar}}
{{Infobox currency
| name = Gold dinar
| local_name1 = {{lang|ar|{{Script/Arabic|دينار ذهبي}}|rtl=yes}}
| replaced_by_currency = [[Iraqi dinar]] and [[Syrian pound]]
| obsolete = 2019
| local_name_lang1 = ar
| image_1 = Золоті динари ІДІЛу.jpg
| image_title_1 = Dinar coins from an ISIL propaganda video, 2015<ref name ="gd1"/>
| using_countries = {{flag|Islamic State}}
| symbol = 
| used_coins = 1, 5 [[dinars]]<br />1, 5, 10 [[dirhams]]<br />10, 20 [[Fals|fulûs]]
| used_banknotes = None
| issuing_authority = [[Finances of the Islamic State|Diwan Bayt al-Mal]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sabah, Alexander|first=Zaid, Caroline|date=2015-08-29|title=Islamic State Flips Gold Coins to Break Fed 'Enslavement|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-29/islamic-state-finds-gold-coins-are-a-steal-as-throwback-currency|access-date=2021-11-11|website=www.bloomberg.com}}</ref>
}}
The '''Islamic State dinar''' ({{langx|ar|دينار الدولة الإسلامية}}), or simply the '''gold dinar''',<ref name ="gd1">{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/TheRiseOfTheKhilafahAndTheReturnOfTheGoldDinar_201509|title=The Rise of the Khilafah and the Return of the Gold Dinar|publisher=[[Islamic State]]|year=2015}}</ref> was the official currency of the [[Islamic State]] from [[Territory of the Islamic State|2014 to 2019]]. Subdivided into ''[[Dirham|dirhams]]'' and ''[[Fals|fulûs]]'', it was modelled after the historical [[gold dinar]] that was first introduced in the [[Muslim world]] during the time of the [[Umayyad Caliphate]]. In 2016, one Islamic State dinar had an effective exchange rate of {{USD|190}} or {{GBP|91}}, though it did not gain traction outside of the [[Middle East]] due to the [[War against the Islamic State|Islamic State conflict]], as the international community did not recognize the Islamic State's sovereignty and designated it as a terrorist organization.<ref>{{Cite news|title=El Estado Islámico ya tiene su propia moneda oficial|url=https://www.minutouno.com/mundo/estado-islamico/el-ya-tiene-su-propia-moneda-oficial-n1496995|date=2016-07-09|work=Minuto Uno}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Isis shows off currency with gold dinar coins worth £91 each - in quest for 'world domination'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-shows-new-currency-gold-dinar-coins-worth-ps91-each-quest-world-domination-10480121.html|last=Staufenberg|first=Jess|date=2015-09-02|work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>

== Background ==
The [[Islamic State of Iraq]] (ISI) establishing itself in 2013 as the Islamic State of [[Iraq]] and [[Syria (region)|Syria]] (or the [[Levant]]), and then simply as the [[Islamic State]] in June 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Isis vs Islamic State vs Isil vs Daesh: What do the different names mean – and why does it matter?|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-vs-islamic-state-vs-isil-vs-daesh-what-do-different-names-mean-9750629.html|last=Dearden|first=Lizzie|date=2016-09-27|work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> By 2015, it controlled [[Territory of the Islamic State|a large amount of territory in both countries]], declaring itself as a [[caliphate]] and planning to absorb other territories of the [[Muslim world]]. However, none of the [[Member states of the United Nations|United Nations member states]] recognized the Islamic State's sovereignty; it was instead widely designated as a terrorist organization by the international community.

== Minting and distribution ==
In a 2014 issue of the online IS magazine ''[[Dabiq (magazine)|Dabiq]]'', the organization announced that it was preparing to mint an independent currency based on the one used in the historical caliphates.<ref>{{Cite book|title=[[Dabiq (magazine)|Dabiq]]|publisher=[[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]]|year=2014|pages=19}}</ref> A design of coins made of gold, silver, and copper was subsequently published. In the 2015 video ''The Rise of the Khilafah and the Return of the Gold Dinar'', IS announced that these coins were set for release.<ref name="gd1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.religion.info/2018/12/23/the-return-of-the-gold-dinar-an-analysis-of-the-islamic-state-coin-production/|title=The Return of the Gold Dinar – An analysis of the Islamic State coin production|date=2018-12-23|website=Religioscope|last=Moos|first=Olivier}}</ref> The planned exchange rate to the [[United States dollar]] was approximately {{USD|139}}. A number of analysts stated that the organization was motivated to produce such a currency for [[Use of mass media by the Islamic State|pan-Islamic propaganda purposes]] or for emphasizing the sovereign statehood of the so-called IS caliphate, or both.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.coinworld.com/news/world-coins/2014/11/can-isis-issues-its-own-coins--.html|title=Can ISIS issues [sic] its own coins?|date=2014-11-17|website=[[Coin World]]|last=Starck|first=Jeff}}</ref> According to IS media, however, the organization's intent behind the coinage was to allow the Muslim world to be economically independent, particularly with regard to the financial influence of the [[Western world]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.coinworld.com/voices/bill-gibbs/2015/12/some_coins_shouldbe.html|title=Some coins should be off-limits to collectors|website=[[Coin World]]}}</ref> In 2015, Turkish authorities discovered an underground IS minting facility in [[Şahinbey]], a town near [[Gaziantep]], close to the [[Syria–Turkey border|Syrian border]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Secret printing presses making Isis currency seized by Turkish police|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-currency-six-arrested-after-secret-printing-presses-making-coins-found-after-raid-turkish-police-a6685681.html|last=Mortimer|first=Caroline|date=2015-10-08|work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Turkish police raid illicit mint making Isis currency|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/turkish-police-raid-illicit-mint-making-isis-currency-htwx99q3sv5|last=Smith|first=Hannah Lucinda|date=2015-10-08|work=[[The Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Turkey arrests six over 'minting coins for ISIS'|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/turkey-arrests-six-over-minting-coins-for-isis|date=2015-10-07|work=[[The Straits Times]]}}</ref>

Despite the extensive promotion of the IS [[gold dinar]], the currency saw limited circulation. It was almost exclusively used in those parts of IS-controlled territory where it was forbidden to use other currencies.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://archive.org/details/143124|title=1NS1DE: Inside the Khilafah|lang=ar|publisher=[[Al-Hayat Media Center]]|year=2017}}</ref> By 2019, as the IS quasi-state collapsed, the gold dinar was replaced by the [[Iraqi dinar]] and the [[Syrian pound]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foreigndesknews.com/world/middle-east/isis-introduces-golden-dinar-currency-hopes-will-collapse-u-s-dollar/|title=ISIS introduces 'Golden Dinar' currency, Hopes it will collapse U.S. dollar|website=The Foreign Desk|date=6 July 2016|access-date=15 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807093307/http://www.foreigndesknews.com/world/middle-east/isis-introduces-golden-dinar-currency-hopes-will-collapse-u-s-dollar/|archive-date=7 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Coinage ==
A series of coins divided between gold [[Dinar|dinars]], silver [[Dirham|dirhams]], and copper [[Fals|fulûs]] were released, seeing limited circulation in [[Syria]], with locals' [[Syrian pound]]s being taken away and replaced with the dinar in some regions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foreigndesknews.com/world/middle-east/isis-introduces-golden-dinar-currency-hopes-will-collapse-u-s-dollar/|title=ISIS introduces 'Golden Dinar' currency, Hopes it will collapse U.S. dollar|website=The Foreign Desk|date=6 July 2016|access-date=15 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807093307/http://www.foreigndesknews.com/world/middle-east/isis-introduces-golden-dinar-currency-hopes-will-collapse-u-s-dollar/|archive-date=7 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

There have also been reports that indicate that the coinage publicized by the group has differed greatly in terms of actual circulation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n05a24.html|title=NEW IMAGES OF ISIS COINAGE|date=2018-02-04|website=Numismatic Bibliomania Society}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n52a10.html|title=AN ANALYSIS OF ISIS COIN PRODUCTION|date=2018-12-30|website=Numismatic Bibliomania Society}}</ref>
=== Characteristics ===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Image
! Value
! Diameter (mm)
! Thickness (mm)
! Mass (g)
! Composition
! Edge
!Obverse
!Reverse
|- 
| align="center" | [[File:5 динарів, золото.jpg|frameless|upright=0.4]]
| 5 [[Dinar|dinars]]
| 29
| 2.3
| style="text-align:right;" | 21.25
| [[Gold coin|Gold]]
| Reeded
|Inscription and issuer
|[[World map]]; value; year of minting
|- 
| align="center" | [[File:1 динар, золото.jpg|frameless|upright=0.4]]
| 1 dinar
| 19
| 1.15
| style="text-align:right;" | 4.25
| Gold
| Reeded
|Inscription and issuer
|7 [[Ear (botany)|ears]] of [[wheat]]; value; year of minting
|-
| align="center" | [[File:10 дірхамів, срібло.jpg|frameless|upright=0.4]]
| 10 [[Dirham|dirhams]]
| 38
| 2.4
| style="text-align:right;" | 20
| [[Silver coin|Silver]]
| Reeded
|Inscription and issuer
|[[Al-Aqsa Mosque]] of [[Jerusalem]]; value; year of minting
|- 
| align="center" | [[File:5 дірхамів, срібло.jpg|frameless|upright=0.4]]
| 5 dirhams
| 26
| 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 10
| Silver
| Reeded
|Inscription and issuer
|[[Umayyad Mosque]] of [[Damascus]]; value; year of minting
|- 
| align="center" | [[File:1 дірхам, срібло.jpg|frameless|upright=0.4]]
| 1 dirhams
| 18
| 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 2
| Silver
| Reeded
|Inscription and issuer
|[[Spear]] and [[shield]]; value; year of minting
|- 
| align="center" | [[File:20 філсів, мідь.jpg|frameless|upright=0.4]]
| 20 [[Fals|fulûs]]
| 37
| 2.6
| style="text-align:right;" | 20
| [[Copper coins|Copper]]
| Smooth
|Inscription and issuer
|3 [[Date palm|date palms]]; value; year of minting
|- 
| align="center" | [[File:10 філсів, мідь.jpg|frameless|upright=0.4]]
| 10 fulûs
| 29
| 3
| style="text-align:right;" | 10
| Copper
| Smooth
|Inscription and issuer
|[[Star and crescent|Islamic crescent]]; value; year of minting
|}

== See also ==
* [[Territory of the Islamic State]]
* [[Finances of the Islamic State]]
** [[Terrorism financing]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Portal|Numismatics}}

{{Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant}}
{{Dinar}}
{{Islamic banking and finance}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]]
[[Category:Funding of terrorism]]
[[Category:Currencies of Syria]]
[[Category:Currencies of Iraq]]
[[Category:Currencies introduced in 2015]]
[[Category:Circulating currencies]]
[[Category:Dinar]]
[[Category:Gold coins]]
[[Category:Silver coins]]
[[Category:Copper coins]]