Learning Persian the hard way

JZrarities · March 30, 2005 9:05AM

OK - the story starts in some US city when I start my coin hunting with the phone book.
After two stores with little/no darkside, I was starting to worry.
The third store had a little, and since I had money burning a hole in my pocket - I had to find something.

I DO absolutely love toned coins, and this one stood out:

I don't know a thing about coins from Iran, but loved the color and what I thought was a great strike.

The holder stated: Iran, 100 dinar, 1909-1911

Hmmm,, it sounded like an unsure description with room for some attribution fun.

Oh well, it was only $10

I get it home and find my Krause (1974) and try to figure out what I have. I think the photos are accurate in size and best guess is that it's a 1,000 dinar not 100.

Time to find the date.

I look below the lion and try to read the persian writing. After spending a half hour with the translator in Krause I decided that it's not the date. The reverse (sorry, forgot to take the photo) is full of writing which I decipher to be a 'first legend' and in tiny writing at the bottom of the coin is '1' '2' '9' '6' (in Arabic of course) Must be the date. Translates to AH1296 and matches one of the dates for the 1,000 dinar.

Hmm... Sorta fun buying this old Persian piece.

Thanks for letting me share - maybe I'll post the picture of the Vologasses III that I bought...My first Parthian (with color too)

newsman · March 30, 2005 9:35AM

The writing under the lion appears to be the denomination, because the second word is "dinar." I can't tell the first word, because I don't know Persian.

harasha · March 30, 2005 9:53AM

Obverse should translate, "Nasr e Din, Shah Qajar, Sultan." The small letters beneath would be "Tehran."

Lynch · March 30, 2005 10:08AM

<< I don't know Persian.

>>

Maybe that is because the language of Iran is not "Persian".

It is Farsi, although some Turkish, Arabic and Kurdish are also spoken there.

newsman · March 30, 2005 10:16AM

<< 

<< I don't know Persian.

>>

Maybe that is because the language of Iran is not "Persian".

It is Farsi, although some Turkish, Arabic and Kurdish are also spoken there.

>>

If you actually knew anything about Iran, you would know that the two terms are interchangeable, Doucheman.

BTW, you're slipping. You don't usually make coin-related posts under your alt.

Lynch · March 30, 2005 10:40AM

<< Translates to AH1296 and matches one of the dates for the 1,000 dinar. >>

I think your identification is correct. The coin looks like it is made of good silver, not the CuNi composition of the 100 dinars of the period marked on the holder.

JZrarities · March 30, 2005 11:07AM

The coin appears to be of good silver. Did they make debased coins (CuNi) during the 1909-11 era?

Maybe I'll post a picture of the reverse, but thanks to the poster above who helped with the translation.

Question: was the coin minted in Tehran?

Lynch · March 30, 2005 11:59AM

<< The coin appears to be of good silver. Did they make debased coins (CuNi) during the 1909-11 era?

Maybe I'll post a picture of the reverse, but thanks to the poster above who helped with the translation.

Question: was the coin minted in Tehran? >>

Krause lists a 100 dinars struck in CuNi (type of Y-24) during the AH 1318-37 period (which would be 1904-23 if my date conversion is correct).

The 1000 dinars/1 Kran denomination (Y-11) was struck AH 129x in .900 silver and is similar in appearance to the CuNi coin. I believe AH 1296 converts to roughly 1882.

Lynch · March 30, 2005 12:44PM

<< Question: was the coin minted in Tehran? >>

I don't know where it was struck.

It might aid identification if you could post a picture of the other side of the coin.

I believe Harasha's suggestion for translation refers to the side of the coin which is NOT shown & that the mint designation is shown in diminutive script on that side.

The side shown in your photo only states the 1000 dinars denomination.

SYRACUSIAN · March 31, 2005 4:11AM

Nice one JZ, I have a similar one ,with white obverse and very nicely toned reverse

Iran (Persia) 2000 Dinars 1330 (1913)

JZrarities · March 31, 2005 4:20AM

Yes, VERY nice...

When are you going to sell me that 1-Phoenix?

JZrarities · March 31, 2005 4:32AM

Here's a quick shot of the reverse:

The date (hard to read) is at the bottom. 1296

Any help with the rest?

Lynch · March 31, 2005 4:56AM

JZrarities,

Krause has a series of notations on Iranian coins. I found this comment which appears to answer your question asking if the coin was struck in Tehran:

"MINTS FOR SILVER AND GOLD

The following mints struck silver and/or gold coins during the period AD1796-1878 (AH1211-1296). All except the Central Mint at Tehran were suppressed by order of Nasir Al-Din Shah in 1295 / 1878."

That strongly suggests that your coin could only have been struck at the Tehran mint.

Lynch · March 31, 2005 5:05AM

<< Here's a quick shot of the reverse:

The date (hard to read) is at the bottom. 1296

Any help with the rest? >>

That matches the Krause illustration for the 1000 dinars coin (Y-11) VERY closely & I think eliminates any reasonable doubt regarding identification.

JZrarities · March 31, 2005 5:52AM

Thanks IMMENSELY for the help - Greatly appreciated.

JZ

harasha · March 31, 2005 8:31AM

Dimitri, that is an absolutely stunning coin of Ahmad Shah. I do not think I have seen one nicer!

AbrahamB · September 28, 2022 10:55AM

Hi everyone. I speak Farsi and am familiar with a good number of Persian coins from Safavid, Zandian, Qajar, and Pahlavi.

Message me if you have any questions.

I have been collecting for 5 years now and have a number of Persian coins for sale if anyone is interested.

Learning Persian the hard way

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