Obverse. Photo © acsaerch.info
  • 1 Dinar 1982, KM# 164, Iraq, Restoration of Babel, Tower of Babel
  • 1 Dinar 1982, KM# 164, Iraq, Restoration of Babel, Tower of Babel
Description

On 14 February 1978, the Ba'athist government of Iraq under Saddam Hussein began the "Archaeological Restoration of Babylon Project": reconstructing features of the ancient city atop its ruins. These features included the Southern Palace of Nebuchadnezzar, with 250 rooms, five courtyards, and a 30-meter entrance arch. The project also reinforced the Processional Way, the Lion of Babylon, and an amphitheatre constructed in the city's Hellenistic era. In 1982, the government minted a set of seven coins displaying iconic features of Babylon.

Obverse

Depicted the outer view of the Tower of Babel dividing dates in Western and in Arabic years both in Arabic numerals.

The Tower of Babel (Hebrew: מִגְדַּל בָּבֶל‎, Mīgdal Bāḇel) narrative in Genesis 11:1–9 is an origin myth and parable meant to explain why the world's peoples speak different languages.

According to the story, a united human race speaking a single language and migrating eastward comes to the land of Shinar (שִׁנְעָר‎). There they agree to build a city and a tower with its top in the sky. Yahweh, observing their city and tower, confounds their speech so that they can no longer understand each other, and scatters them around the world.

Some modern scholars have associated the Tower of Babel with known structures, notably Etemenanki, a ziggurat dedicated to the Mesopotamian god Marduk in Babylon. While the archaeological record is incompatible with this identification, many scholars believe that the biblical story was inspired by Etemenanki. A Sumerian story with some similar elements is told in Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta.

١٤٠٢هـ ١٩٨٢م

Reverse

Value in Arabic in a central circle with lettering, the country name above. The inscription "The restoration of Babel, a public and national responsibility" below.

الجمهورية العراقية
١
دينار
أحياء بابل أثريا واجب وطني و قومي و انساني

Edge

1 Dinar

KM# 164 Schön# 72
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Nickel
Weight 13 g
Diameter 33 mm
Thickness -
Shape polygon
Sides 10
Alignment Medal
Alt # KM# PS6
Mint
Royal Mint

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