Illustrated Specimen Details: Fils

Example Specimen: 1 Fils, 1938 AD (AH 1357) — Kingdom of Iraq

The coin shown above is a bronze fils from the era of Ghazi I (Ghazi bin Faisal), King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq. This issue, with a mintage of 36,000,000 pieces, is a key representation of the early monetary system of independent Iraq.

  • Obverse: Displays the inscription غازي الأول ملك العراق (Ghazi I, King of Iraq) and the state name المملكة العراقية (Kingdom of Iraq).
  • Reverse: Features the denomination and the dates ١٣٥٧ (AH 1357) and ١٩٣٨ (1938 AD).
Issuer: Kingdom of Iraq
Denomination: 1 Fils
Date: 1938 (AH 1357)
Metal: Bronze
Weight: 2.5 g  |  Diameter: 19.5 mm
Estimated value: 2.5$
DENOMINATION GUIDE — WHERE & WHEN (coins catalog: by names & emitents)
  1. IRAQ (1931-2026): 1 fils = 1/1000 dinar = 1/200 riyal = 1/50 dirham
  2. BAHRAIN (1965-2026): 1 fils = 1/1000 dinar
  3. JORDAN (1949-2026): 1 fils = 1/1000 dinar = 1/100 dirham = 1/10 qirsh (piastre)
  4. KUWAIT (1961-2026): 1 fils = 1/1000 dinar
  5. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (1973-2026): 1 fils = 1/100 dirham
  6. SOUTH ARABIA (1962-1967): 1 fils = 1/1000 dinar
  7. SOUTH YEMEN (PDRY, 1967-1990): 1 fils = 1/1000 dinar
  8. NORTH YEMEN (YAR, 1974-1990): 1 fils = 1/100 rial
The name of the coin (fils) originates from the follis, a widespread Roman and Byzantine bronze coin. In the medieval Islamic world, the term "fals" (plural "fulus") referred to copper money used for everyday market transactions. In many modern Arabic dialects, the word is still used as a general term for money.

History and Significance of the Fils

The fils is one of the most widely used fractional monetary units across the Arab world. While its value and metal composition vary from state to state, it consistently serves as a subunit of larger national currencies like the dinar, dirham, or rial. In most modern decimal systems, it represents 1/1000 of a dinar or 1/100 of a dirham.

From Byzantine Copper to Islamic Fulus

The historical journey of the fils began with the linguistic adaptation of the Byzantine follis. Under the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates, fulus were struck as low-value copper coins alongside gold dinars and silver dirhams. Unlike precious metal coinage, these copper pieces were often local and varied widely in weight and design, reflecting their primary role in local bazaars rather than international trade.

Modern Statehood and Decimalization

In the 20th century, as newly independent Arab states began forming their own monetary identities, the term fils was retained as a culturally familiar name for small change. Countries such as Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE incorporated it into their modern decimal frameworks.

Technical specifications reflect the diversity of the region: while Iraqi issues were often bronze, Kuwaiti and Bahraini coins frequently utilize mідно-нікелеві сплави або латунь. Their designs are rich with regional symbolism, featuring state emblems, falcons, palm trees, or traditional sailing vessels (dhows).

The Fils in Contemporary Numismatics

Today, the purchasing power of the fils has been significantly eroded by inflation. In many countries, the smallest denominations (such as 1 or 5 fils) have either disappeared from daily trade or serve primarily as accounting units. However, for numismatists, these coins remain essential milestones. Mid-20th-century issues are particularly popular for their variety, bilingual inscriptions in Arabic and English, and their role in documenting the political and economic evolution of the Middle East.