Iran, civic copper with face value : "shahi", funambulist / Rasht

Started by saro, February 28, 2014, 04:32:10 PM

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saro

Personages are not common on persian or afghan coppers; a similar design is reported by Valentine for Resht mint (Val.86), this one is  of Ahmadshahi mint (Qandahar).
Valentine suggested an athlet on parallel bar (design cut), here we can see clearly that it's a funambulist.
12,31g
"All I know is that I know nothing" (Socrates)

THCoins

That surely is one of the most peculiar Afghan coin designs i have ever seen !

Prosit


saro

"All I know is that I know nothing" (Socrates)

capnbirdseye

A most unusual Afghan coin, can't be many of those around I would think  :o
Vic

saro

I agree, and for those who haven't the book : "Modern copper coins of Muhammadan States" by Valentine, I join a picture of n°86 (Resht / Iran) with a similar design.
"All I know is that I know nothing" (Socrates)

saro

Quote from: saro on February 28, 2014, 04:32:10 PM
Personages are not common on persian or afghan coppers; a similar design is reported by Valentine for Resht mint (Val.86)

The design is so similar that I realize now that this coin is also of Rasht !  ::) the word "shahi" isn't a part of "Ahmadshahi" as I thought,  but is the denomination of the coin !! : "shahi" ( 50 dinars).... the mintname is at top, even not very clear  : (Ra)sht  ("R" is off).

Usually, Iranian civic copper coins don't bear any denomination but only the generic  term "falus"; this coin could be a rare exception.

In "The Monetary History of Iran from the Safavids to the Qajars / 2013" , Matthee, Floor & Clawson  say:
"Copper coins usually have a date and the mint stamped on them, but typically do not indicate their face value. Only three coins with their face value stamped on them are known for the sixteenth century andnone for the seventeen century. The coins in question were struck in Qunduz, Termiz and Hisar (957/ 1550) and state their value as "two dinars" (ie: the 2 dinars coppers of Amirs of Qunduz).

The first Iranian copper coins with a face value seem to be those struck under Nasir al-din Shah Qajar (standardized "seated lion and sun" type) and this undated coin could have been in use at time of early Qajars.




"All I know is that I know nothing" (Socrates)