The Kurds are an ethnic group divided between Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran. For centuries they have dreamed of having an independent homeland, however each time the dream has been thwarted. An independent Kurdistan was promised after World War I, however instead their land was divided between Turkey and Iraq. After the First Gulf War in 1991 the Kurds in Iraq were granted a large degree of autonomy under the United Nations. They even used a different currency than the rest of Iraq, called the Swiss Dinar.  Many Kurds in Iraq were expecting to gain full independence with the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Several Kurdish groups authorized the issuance of coins for what they expected would be a new independent nation after the fall of Saddam. However, the Turks feared that an independent Kurdistan in Iraq would further the demands of the Kurds within Turkey for more autonomy. They strongly objected to an autonomous Kurdistan within Iraq and threatened an invasion. The United States agreed with Turkey, so plans for an independent Kurdistan have once again been quashed. The first coins however were still issued. The 10 Dinar coin pictures the native Persian Fallow Deer and has an authorized mintage of only 10,000 pieces. The coin is struck on nickel plated bronze. The 10 Dinar is 39mm (silver dollar size). Mountains have figured prominently in Kurdish lore, so the reverse of the coin features four mountain peaks, which also represents the four nations with major Kurdish populations. Above the mountains is a 21-rayed rising sun, which is a traditional Kurdish symbol predating the nations conversion to Islam. The legends are in the two main dialects of Kurdish: Sorani and Kurmanji. A significant portion of the authorized mintage of the 10 Dinar is actually being distributed in Iraqi held portions of Kurdistan. This is a beautiful and intriguing coin.