The Iranian Rial is the official currency of Iran and has been the standard monetary unit in Iran since 1798. At the time of writing, the government of Iran is in the process of changing currencies from the Rial to the Toman, with one Toman being worth 10,000 Rials.
So, whilst this blog may soon become a historical post rather than a travel post, let’s take a look at the currency of Iran, its history, the design of its coins & banknotes, and how to get your hands on local currency upon your arrival in the Islamic Republic.
History
The term Rial was first introduced in 1798 with the release of a new Rial coin that was worth 1,250 Dinar – the base currency at the time.
With the introduction of the Rial, the currency system of Iran was as follows:
| Unit | Amount |
| Dinar | Standard Base Unit |
| Shahi | 50 Dinar |
| Mahmoudi | 100 Dinar // 2 Shahi |
| Abbasi | 200 Dinar // 4 Shahi // 200 Dinar |
| Naderi | 500 Dinar // 10 Shahi // 5 Mahmoudi // 2.5 Abbasi |
| Rial | 1,250 Dinar // 25 Shahi // 12.5 Mahmoudi // 6.25 Abbasi // 2.5 Naderi |
| Toman | 10,000 Dinar // 200 Shahi // 100 Mahmoudi // 50 Abbasi // 20 Naderi |
The modern version of the Iranian Rial was first introduced in 1932 and today is administered and distributed by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The currency is issued in denominations of between 50 Rials and 100,000 Rials.
Where and How to get Iranian Rial
You will need to carry cash with you into Iran since your credit or debit card won’t work once you’re in the country. You’ll be able to change your currency into Iranian Rials at the airport, if that’s how you’re arriving. If not, most local branches should be able to offer money exchanging services upon your arrival.
Alternatively, you can load your cash onto an Iranian debit card which are available to foreign travellers and can be acquired at the following banks:
- Bank Melli Iran
- Bank Pasargad
- Saman Bank
There is a branch of Imam Khomeini International Airport, a common port of entry into Iran. Here, you’ll be able to get a cash card and load your currency onto it. These are accepted all over Iran, although it’s certainly a good idea to keep some local currency in cash-form for any trips out into truly rural Iran.
For extra details on how and where to obtain currency, check with your tour manager before you travel.
Banknotes & Coins
Currently in circulation, there are seven denominations of coin and seven denominations of banknote.
Coins
50 Rial
The obverse of the 50 Rial coin holds the number 50 in Persian/Farsi whilst the reverse holds an image of the Hazrat Masumah Shrine, a shrine to Fatima Masumeh in the city of Qom.
100 Rial
One side of the 100 Rial coin is, once again, graced with the monetary amount, 100, written in Farsi whilst the opposite side holds an image of the Imam Reza Shrine, a shrine and mausoleum of Imam Reza, a descendent of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
250 Rial
The obverse of the 250 Rial coin depicts the Feyziyeh School, an institution in Iran founded in the Safavid era and recently made a national monument. The reverse holds the number 250 in Farsi.
500 Rial
The obverse of the 500 Rial Coin holds an image of the Saadi Tomb, a mausoleum in the city of Shiraz which holds the influential Persian poet Saadi, decorated inside with lines of his writings. The reverse holds the number 500 in Farsi.
1000 Rial
The obverse of this coin depicts the Khaju Bridge, one of the historical bridges over the Zayanderud River in the city of Isfahan, completed in 1650. The reverse holds the number 1000 in Farsi along with an image of Mount Damavand, Iran’s highest peak.
2000 Rial
The reverse of the 2000 Rial coin holds the number 2000 in Farsi surrounded by a wreath whilst the obverse holds an image of the aforementioned Imam Reza Shrine.
5000 Rial
The reverse of the 5000 coin also holds the value surrounded by a wreath of wheat. The obverse however, unlike the other coins, holds text rather than an image. The 5000 Rial coin holds the phrase “Fiftieth anniversary of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran – 1960-2010” written in Persian/Farsi.
Banknotes
Every banknote in the latest series holds the portrait of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini along with varying imagery. As a result, in the following description, we will omit the portrait from direct reference since it appears on every note.
1000 Rial
The 1000 Rial banknote is green and yellow in colour, holding an image of the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad. The reverse holds an image of the Dome of the Rock – an Islamic shrine in the old city of Jerusalem.
2000 Rial
The 2000 Rial banknote is onion-skin purple. The obverse depicts only the portrait, whilst the reverse depicts the al-Kaʿbah al-Musharrafah, the distinctive centrepiece of the Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca.
5000 Rial
The 5000 Rial banknote is a light red/orange colour and depicts, once again, only the portrait on the obverse alongside Farsi calligraphy. The reverse depicts some ancient pottery found in eastern Iran, symbolic of Iran’s links to ancient Persia.
10,000 Rial
The reverse of the olive-green 10,000 Rial banknote depicts the previously mentioned highest peak in Iran, Mount Damavand. The obverse once again holds Farsi, calligraphically written, which translates to “Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran”.
20,000 Rial
The 20,000 Rial note is light-blue in colour and depicts the Aghazadeh Mansion on the reverse. This distinctive building was constructed during the Qajar Dynasty and is a national monument in Iran. Located in Abarkooh, the building’s architecture is stunning and highlighted by the windcatchers on the building.
50,000 Rial
The light orange 50,000 Rial banknote holds the ubiquitous portrait on the obverse and the architecturally impressive entranceway to Tehran University on the reverse.
100,000 Rial
Another olive-green banknote, the 100,000 Iranian Rial is the highest denomination banknote in circulation in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The reveres holds an image of the previously mentioned Mausoleum of the poet Saadi in the city of Shiraz.
Handle Iranian currency yourself by joining us on one of our Iran tours where you’ll get to see some of the sites depicted on the banknotes in reality!