Iraq 500 Fils 1982

History

500 Fils 1982, KM# 168a, Iraq, Restoration of Babel, Lion of Babylon

Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)

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.

The value is Filsan instead of Fils.

Obverse	Animal (fish, bird, mammal etc.) Lion Art (sculpture, painting etc.) Statue Depicted the Lion of Babylon above a stone slab dividing dates in Western and in Arabic years both in Arabic numerals. Lion of Babylon is a stone sculpture, over 2600 years old, that was found in the ancient city of Babylon, Iraq. Its discovery was first documented in 1817 by Claudius Rich, although it may have been seen as early as 1790 by Joseph de Beauchamp. The statue may have been commissioned by the Chaldean Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II (605–562 BC), but most experts now believe it is of Hittite origin, made during a Hittite occupation of the city. The statue is made out of black basalt; it depicts a Mesopotamian lion standing above a lying human. The statue is two meters in length and the platform upon which it stands is one meter high. The lion weighs about 7000 kg. The statue's height is 1 meter. ١٤٠٢هـ ١٩٨٢م
Reverse	Value in Arabic in a central circle with lettering (500 Filsan), the country name above. The inscription "The restoration of Babel, a public and national responsibility" below. الجمهورية العراقية ٥٠٠ فلساً أحياء بابل أثريا واجب وطني و قومي و انساني
Edge	Reeded (milled)