Iran, oblong civic copper of Yazd dated 1014 AH , monkey

[Figleaf]

Members of the French language Numismatique forum have not succeeded in identifying this coin. It is copper, about 35 by 20 mm and brought from Iran. Their best guess is Savavid: Sultan Husayn, 1694-1722. Can we help?

Peter

[Paris]

Nobody knows ?

[saro]

Another cold case...
It's well a persian coin, not far from KM152, struck during the reign of Shah Abbas II described as "elephant branch behind"; here tusks are specially prominent...
On the following examplar found on the net, the dateis 1057, the mintname isn't given but I read it as "Erivan"

[Pellinore]

What is that animal on the first coin, the backside of a horse? A stag beetle?
And on the second coin, the things above the elephant, is that lettering or something else?
-- Paul

[saro]

on the 1st coin we have indeed a strange animal  it looks like an elephant...
on the 2nd coin, there are only groups of dots & ornaments, I think.

[saro]

The case is now solved I think.
I have had in hands readable coins of this type which allow identification:
"zarb Yazd 1014" is clearly readable in a central round cartouche, and on reverse, the curious animal is, I think, not an elephant but a monkey...

So, it's a civic copper of Yazd mint, struck during the reign of Shah Abbas I (and not Shah Abbas II as I previously suggested : not very far indeed !.. )
This coin seems to be unlisted, even if not very rare, most probably because readable examplars were not available. I'll try to post a picture soon.

[saro]

here 2 coins showing details (mint / date & animal)
19,20 & 19,08g / size : 35 x 21mm

[Figleaf]

Most excellent, saro. Thank you very much. The shape of this coin is typical for a technique, that used copper thread for making coins. The dies were nipped into the cable end and the coin broken off. This works only for small coins.

Peter

[saro]

Looking for similar coins, I have found this coin of Erivan with a monkey :
http://www.zeno.ru/showphoto.php?photo=74767

I try to reconstruct the circular legend of these coins, if members possess such ones and post them, that will be wonderful

[saro]

I try to reconstruct the circular legend of these coins, if members possess such ones and post them, that will be wonderful

This coin appears to be scarcer than I thought....  I haven't been able to find any reference for it ...
I just need a picture of the left part of the one first posted on this thread to obtain the full circular legend, which is very frustating...  

I renew my call for help...

[saro]

What is that animal on the first coin, the backside of a horse? A stag beetle?

a rotation of the 1st picture shows that it exists two varieties of this rare coin : monkey to left and to right

[saro]

I try to reconstruct the circular legend of these coins

Now it is done; it has been never previously reported and  reads : "we struck the state coin in the name of the Prophet's family"
central legend : "struck at Yazd 1014"

[Pellinore]

Compliments, saro, and that after all those years! A thread that has earned more than 400 views, too.
I really love the die design, and that's a fine, expressive and faithfully drawn monkey.
What does it mean 'in the name of the Prophet's family'? Does it point to a special cousin or a descendant?

-- Paul

[saro]

Thank you Paul 

What does it mean 'in the name of the Prophet's family'? Does it point to a special cousin or a descendant?

The Safavids  claimed to be Sayyids, family of descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, that could be the reason ?
This legend is uncommon and I have to thank Dr Sebastian Hanstein  (Tûbingen University museum / islamic coins) for his kind help.

[aws22]

Dear Saro, reading the Farsi text, it looks like:
Center field reads:  ضرب یزد ۱۰۱۴ , “ Zarb Yazd 1014 “, meaning, struck at Yazd 1014.
Margin legend in Farsi reads: سکه دولت بنام آل نعمه ردیم  , “ Sekka dawlat be-nam al-Ni’ma radeem “,  meaning, We have this state coin called al-Ni’ma (Devine Grace).
The word “ آل نعمه al-Ni’ma ” could be a well-known family name, descendants of Abdulah bin Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (Sayyids).

Maythem