Islamic State dinar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Islamic State dinar
Dinar coins from an ISIL propaganda video, 2014
User(s)	Islamic State
Coins	1, 5 dinars 1, 5, 10 dirhams 10, 20 fulûs
Banknotes	None

The Islamic State dinar was a special type of money. It was used by a group called the Islamic State (IS) between 2014 and 2019. This money was also known as the gold dinar.

It was divided into smaller units called dirhams and fulûs. The design of these coins was based on an old type of money. This old money, also called the gold dinar, was first used a long time ago in the Muslim world. This happened during the time of the Umayyad Caliphate, which was a large Islamic empire.

In 2016, one Islamic State dinar was worth about 190 US dollars or 91 British pounds. However, this money was not used much outside the Middle East. This was because of the conflict involving the Islamic State. Most countries around the world did not see the Islamic State as a real country. They also called it a terrorist organization, meaning a group that uses violence to achieve its goals.

What Was the Islamic State?

The Islamic State (IS) was a group that separated from al-Qaeda in 2013. They first called themselves the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Later, in June 2014, they simply became known as the Islamic State.

By 2015, the group controlled a large area in both Iraq and Syria. They announced that they were a "caliphate." A caliphate is a type of Islamic government led by a caliph, who is seen as a successor to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The Islamic State planned to take over more areas in the Muslim world.

However, no country that is part of the United Nations recognized the Islamic State as a real country. Instead, many countries around the world called it a terrorist organization.

Making and Using the Money

In 2014, the Islamic State announced its plan to create its own money. This news was shared in their online magazine, Dabiq. They said their new money would be like the coins used in old caliphates.

Later, they showed designs for coins made of gold, silver, and copper. In 2015, a video called The Rise of the Khilafah and the Return of the Gold Dinar announced the coins were ready. At that time, they planned for one dinar to be worth about 139 US dollars.

Some experts believed the Islamic State made this money for two main reasons. First, it was a way to spread their message to all Muslims. Second, it helped them pretend they were a real, independent country. However, the Islamic State said they wanted to help the Muslim world become financially independent. They wanted to reduce the money influence of the Western world.

In 2015, authorities in Turkey found a secret place where the Islamic State was making coins. This place was in Şahinbey, a town close to the Syrian border.

Even though the Islamic State promoted its gold dinar a lot, it was not widely used. It was mostly used only in areas controlled by the Islamic State. In these places, people were sometimes forced to use the new dinar instead of other money. By 2019, as the Islamic State lost control of its territory, the gold dinar was replaced. People started using the Iraqi dinar and the Syrian pound again.

Types of Coins

The Islamic State released different types of coins. These included gold dinars, silver dirhams, and copper fulûs. These coins were used in some parts of Syria. In certain areas, local people had to give up their Syrian pounds and use the dinar instead.

There have also been reports that the coins the group showed to the public were different from the ones actually used.

Coin Details

Image	Value	Diameter (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Mass (g)	Material	Edge	Front Side	Back Side
	5 dinars	29	2.3	21.25	Gold	Reeded (grooved)	Writing and who made it	World map; value; year it was made
	1 dinar	19	1.15	4.25	Gold	Reeded	Writing and who made it	7 ears of wheat; value; year it was made
	10 dirhams	38	2.4	20	Silver	Reeded	Writing and who made it	Al-Aqsa Mosque of Jerusalem; value; year it was made
	5 dirhams	26	1	10	Silver	Reeded	Writing and who made it	Umayyad Mosque of Damascus; value; year it was made
	1 dirhams	18	1	2	Silver	Reeded	Writing and who made it	Spear and shield; value; year it was made
	20 fulûs	37	2.6	20	Copper	Smooth	Writing and who made it	3 date palms; value; year it was made
	10 fulûs	29	3	10	Copper	Smooth	Writing and who made it	Islamic crescent; value; year it was made

See also

• Territory of the Islamic State
• Finances of the Islamic State
  • Terrorism financing