50,000 rial note
# 50,000 rial note

The fifty thousand rial banknote is a denomination of Iranian currency that was issued in 2007, and was considered its largest denomination until 2010.

The bill features Rouhollah Khomeini's portrait on the front. There are two designs for the back, the original (2007) is nicknamed as the "atomic banknote" by the western media, and the new design (2015) celebrates the eightieth anniversary of the University of Tehran, however is not commemorative.

## Design

### Original design

Christian Funke describes the design as follows:

   It displayed a map of Iran that was decorated with an atomic model showing the orbital paths of electrons around the central nucleus. Besides the atomic diagram, a Persian translation of a tradition (hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad was inserted into the map too. The inscription “Persian Gulf” appeared on the southern shore of the Iranian map.

### Redesign

According to Funke:

   it shows the main entrance to the university [of Tehran]. The empty space beneath the two arches in the banknote is filled with a couplet from Ferdowsi. Both the Persian content and its English translation are inscribed on the note: “Capable is the one who is wise, Knowledge makes the old heart young”.
