Coins of Persia (1876-1945 )

Before the reform of 1876, about 40 Persian cities minted their own coin, which had limited circulation exclusively within a certain territory. Every year, coins were withdrawn from the population and sent for remelting to issue new coins. The population was stimulated to hand over old coins in exchange for new ones with an almost twofold decrease in the purchasing power of old coins. In order for illiterate merchants to distinguish coins of inactive issues from coins of current time, new coins were issued with a modified pattern. Since the issue of such coins was under the control of the governor of the corresponding city, he himself determined both the design and weight of the coin. As a result of the continuous process of withdrawal and recalculation of phaluses, local issues of coins of Persia until 1876 are very difficult to find, especially in good condition. 

 

Copper phaluses did not have a strict weight standard, so mints often issued coins on blanks with a reduced weight, and appropriated an excess of coins for themselves. Often, with the coming to power of a ruler who was in short supply, monetary reforms were started with a change in silver standards. Newly issued coins were issued easier than the previous ones of the same denomination, and the difference went to the treasury. Finally, another feature of pre-reform Persian coins: they almost always lacked an indication of the face value of the coin. Often, denominations of 1/8, ¼, ½ coin denominations and, in fact, the coin denomination itself were minted in the same stamp pairs. It was possible to distinguish them from each other only by the size of the workpiece, which was either thicker (thinner) or wider (narrower). At the same time, impurities of base metals could be added to silver at mints, which reduced its sample and there were significant deviations from the standard in weight, so the denomination of old Persian coins is very difficult to determine. All these reasons indicate that there is no possibility for a detailed cataloging of the old pre-reform coins of Persia.

 

So, in 1876, following the rest of the world, Persia switched to machine coinage. The first press started working at the Tehran Mint, and all mints in other Persian cities were closed. The commissioning of the only state mint made it possible to issue coins of a single sample for the whole country, a single silver standard, weight and sample, as well as control the amount of cash coming into circulation.

 

The non-decimal monetary system of Persia is as follows:
50 Dinarov=1 Shahi
20 Shafi=1 Crane
10 Cranes=1 Toman

 

There are much more denominations. Within 7 years after the release of the first coins, a line was formed, consisting of 6 denominations of copper and 11 denominations of silver coins. Let's list them. At first, copper coins: 12 dinar, 25 dinar, 50 dinar, 1 shahi (50 dinar), 100 dinar, 200 dinar. Silver coins: "white shahi" (150 dinar), ¼ crane (250 dinar), 500 dinar, 10 shahi (500 dinar), 1000 dinar, 1 crane, 2000 dinar, 2 crane, 5000 dinar, 5 crane, toman. 

 

From the general series stand out coins with the same name - "shahi." There are "black shahs" of copper equal to 50 dinars and "white shahs" of silver equal to 3 shahs (150 dinars) or 3-1/8 shahs (156 ¼ dinars). The "white shahi" referred, rather, to ceremonial coins and until 1926 was distributed at New Year's celebrations, while the "black shahi" was a common common coin. The "white shah" with a diameter was larger than the ¼ of a crane with a face value of 250 dinars, but much thinner, therefore, despite the similarity in design and approximate size, there was no confusion in the calculations.

 

The first issue of coins took place during the reign of Nasreddin Shah (Nasser al-Din) from the Qajar dynasty.

 

 

I present to your attention three coins of this period from your personal collection.

 

On the obverse of copper coins, the denomination of the coin in dinars is indicated, as well as the name of the state and the name of the mint (۲۵دینار/ رايج مملكت ايرن/ طهران). On the reverse is a fragment of the state emblem of Persia - the golden Sun.

 

 

On an obverse of silver coins name of the ruling shah (شاه قاجار ناصر الدين السلطان). The reverse of the coins depicts the coat of arms of Persia, approved in 1423 - the walking Leo, carrying the golden Sun on his back and holding a sword in his right paw, under the coat of arms the face value of the coin in dinars (يك هزار دنار ). At the senior denomination of 1 toman, Nasreddin Shah Kajar himself was depicted in military uniform.

 

Please note that it is impossible to determine the year of issue on all coins presented. This became possible due to the severe deterioration of copper coins, or their stamp. On a silver coin, this was facilitated by adjusting the date on the stamp . Coin reverse stamps, which lack the name of the Shah, were not destroyed at the end of his reign, but were used to mint coins of the next ruler until they were painted or completely worn out. At the same time, the date on the stamp was not always adjusted. Sometimes it was simply removed, or a second was added - to the left and right of the paws of a walking lion.

 

 

The above 2000 dinar coin clearly demonstrates the described method of using stamps. In the empty fields of the coin, the remains of the stamp shine are visible, while the pattern and the edges of the stamp are very worn and split, the date is clogged in the usual place, instead the date is applied to the left and right of the lion's paws.

 

After the assassination of Nasreddin Shah by a religious fanatic, his second son, Mozafereddin Shah Kajar, stood at the head of the Persian kingdom.

 

 

The mint during his reign remained virtually unchanged. At the same time, the younger denominations of 50 and 100 dinars for the first time in the history of Persia began to be minted on copper-nickel blanks.

 

The design of silver coins differs little from the coins of the previous ruler. The legend on an obverse enters the name of the governor (السلطان مظفرالدین شاه قاجار), on a reverse the coin face value is specified (پنجهزار دینار).

 

 

Since 1905, denominations from 500 to 5000 dinars have been issued with a portrait of the ruling shah on the obverse. This tradition continued with the release of coins of his receivers.

 

 

The first issued coins of Sultan Ahmad Shah do not differ from the coins of his predecessors - the name of the shah on the obverse of the coin and the coat of arms of Persia on the reverse. Copper-nickel the 50 and 100 dinar continued to be issued in former design as on an obverse there is no mention of a name of the ruling shah, only the face value and the name of the state (۵۰ دینار / رایج مملکت ایران) or (١٠٠ دينار / رايج مملكت ايران).

 

The legend on a coin obverse in 2000 dinar (السلطان سلطان احمد شاه قاجار / طهران) enters the name of the governor and the name of mint, on a reverse face value in cursive script in cranes (دوقران).

 

In 1912, a line of coins with a portrait of the Shah on the obverse came into circulation. Legend without changes: on an obverse a name of the governor and the name of the state (السلطان احمد شاه قاجار شاهنشاه ایران), on a reverse face value in dinars (پانصد دینار / یکهزار دینار / دوهزار دینار / پنج هزار دینار).

 

 

In 1918, Persia issued a line of coins in denominations of 1000 and 2000 dinars dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the reign of Sultan Ahmad Shah.

 

The Prime Minister of Persia, Reza Pahlavi, in 1925 organized the overthrow of the last Shah from the Qajar dynasty and became 34 Shah of Persia .

 

 

By tradition, the copper-nickel trifle was released again in the same design, and the first line of silver coins does not contain the image of the Shah.

 

 

 

Dating on Persian coins was carried out in accordance with the Muslim lunar calendar until March 21, 1925, after which it was transferred to a new calendar based on the solar year. In this regard, in catalogs before 1925, before indicating the date, the old chronology is indicated by the prefix AH, after 1925 - by the prefix SH. Therefore, on the coins of Sultan Ahmad Shah in 1925, the date (AH) 1344 is indicated, while on the coins of Reza Pahlavi issued in 1926, the date is already indicated (SH) 1305, i.e. the chronology in Persia was returned 40 years ago. In addition, in 1976 a monarchical calendar system (MS2535) was introduced, which lasted 2 years, after which the calendar of the solar year was returned.

 

Coins with the ruling shah appeared in circulation only in 1927. The line of coins has not changed. These were coins in denominations of 500-1000-2000-5000 dinars. On an obverse the name of the ruling shah is specified (پهلوی شاهنشاه ایران / جلوس آذر), on a reverse the coin face value in dinars is specified by a copy-book (پانصد دینار / یکهزار دینار / دوهزاردینار  )

 

In 1931, a monetary reform was carried out in Persia. The senior currency is the rial equal to 100 dinars.

 

In the line of the sample of 1931, 1935, small coins were minted on copper, bronze and copper-nickel blanks. Denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 25 dinar were issued. The obverse indicates the face value of the coin in numbers (۱۰ دینار), on the reverse the face value of the coin in words (ده دینار).

 

 

Silver coins were issued in denominations of ¼, ½, 1, 2 and 5 rials. The silver sample "dropped" to 0.828. On an obverse of coins the name of the state and mint (رایج مملکت    ایران / ربعی / طهران), on a reverse coin face value is specified (ربعی).

 

In 1935, at the direction of the Shah, the name of the state was changed to Iran.

 

During World War II, the Allies overthrow Reza Pahlavi in favor of his son Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. Coins of the 1936 model are presented in the corresponding review.

 

 

The 1979 Islamic Revolution ended the monarchy in Iran. The last shah fled to Egypt, and died a year later from an incurable disease.