The first Iran collectible banknotes were issued in 1890, when Iran was still called the Kingdom of Persia. The banknotes used the unit toman. Notes from the first series are very rare; slightly less rare are notes from the second series, also in 1890. Persian banknotes from the 1890s can command a premium in the collectibles marketplace.
During World War I, German banknotes with Persian overprints were used for a short time. These notes now appeal to collectors of both German and Iranian banknotes. For Persia’s 1924 series of banknotes, English was added to the Persian script to identify the denomination of each note — TWO TOMANS, for example.
Banknotes From The Kingdom of Iran and Beyond
The Kingdom of Iran was established in 1932, and the currency system was changed. From this point, Iranian banknotes were in rials; a rial was equal to a tenth of a toman Several series were issued in the ensuing decades, each with something to recommend them to collectors and buyers. By the 1970s, each Iranian banknote featured an image of the Shah.
Oceania rare banknotes and collectible paper money
Banknotes of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, 1978
When the Islamic Revolution of 1978 proved successful, existing banknotes were used with various ornate, intricately-shaped and darkly printed overprints. The new ink was intended to mark the new era, and obscure the image of the Shah. Different overprints on different banknotes are valued in the collectors’ marketplace differently, as some were much more common than others.
In 1981 the Islamic Republic of Iran issued its own banknotes for the first time, and these modern notes continue to be bought and sold in the marketplace today. Inflation has necessitated the gradual introduction of higher-denomination notes into general circulation.
Most, but not all, post-1981 banknotes from Iran feature a prominent image of the Ayatollah.
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Buying and Selling Iran Banknotes on eBay
Are Iranian banknotes allowed on eBay? Not exactly. But they are there.
The United States government has issued an embargo against selling things from Iran. eBay.com, as a consequence, does not allow Iranian banknotes (or coins or other modern collectibles) to be sold on its site.
However, it is still possible, as in the cases of North Korea banknotes and Cuba banknotes, to buy Iranian banknotes on eBay. To get their sales listed, vendors will often use different language in their titles. Examples include, of course, “Persia”, since selling historical and older collectibles is indeed allowed. (And Persia is still a valid alternate name for Iran anyway.)
We use custom technology to locate Iranian banknote sales in whatever category they may be lurking in on eBay (there certainly isn’t a dedicated Iran banknotes category on the site). Take a look at the current selection, if any. Remember that while many buyers don’t visit MegaMinistore and thus don’t see these listings, many do. So, the competition for the best Iranian banknotes for sale isn’t necessarily as low as you might think. If you see something nice, be prepared to act quickly.
Browse 7 current Iran banknotes for sale offers here
There are quite a few interesting collectibles stretching over decades in the Iranian rare paper money category. It takes some extra dedication and focus to spot the best sales, but by using this page you’re already ahead of much of the competition. See also Iranian Azerbaijan banknotes.
