Expert: Brad Swain - 2/17/2010

Question
Hi Brad,

I have a coin.  It is about the size of a US quarter.  It is in Arabic and, I think it is likely from Iraq.  

It features a right facing Saladin Eagle, with three vertical stars in the middle of the crest.  The eagle appears to have wheat in its talons.  It is dated 1991 in Western script, and I suppose the year 1214 (which is 1991-1992) in Arabic.  The 1214 in Arabic is read left-right.
 
I guess it may be a commemorative coin, since that was the year of the Gulf War - and since apparently Iraq stopped producing coins that year.  

Any ideas?

Thanks

Answer
Hi Kevin, it sounds like a 1991 stainless steel 1 Pound coin from Syria.
World coin pictures and some values may be found here: http://worldcoingallery.com/index.htm ,
http://www.coinarchives.com/ , and http://www.numismaster.com/ta/numis.jsp .
You might also try a library for a copy of the Standard Catalog of World Coins for pictures, values and lots more interesting info.
Brad