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Iran, Qajar riyal of Agha Muhammad Khan / Resht 1211 AH

Started by saro, November 20, 2016, 05:50:20 PM

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saro

Apparition of the riyal.
In year 1206 AH (1792), Agha Muhammad, the first Qajar ruler, introduced a new currency, the "riyal" 10% heavier than the rupee (10 riyal = 11 rupees), with a standard weight of 12,67g; a riyal worth 1250 dinars.
These heavy silver coins will have a quite short live : five years later, the weight is reduced to the former rupee's weight (11,52g); the new riyal keep its name and still worth 1250 dinars.

The coin shown here has been struck at Resht (dar al-marz), dated 1211 it's one of the last issues of this somewhat scarce coin.
It shows only a part of the obverse legend which is :
" شد افتا و ماه زر و سیم در جحان از سکه امام بحق صا حب الزمان   "

22mm / thickness : 3,5mm /12,13g
"All I know is that I know nothing" (Socrates)

THCoins

Very instructive post ! In addition a nice example with great overlay.
When i first read i thought huh.. 1250 Dinars ? That just shows i am a bit to preoccupied with coinage from a much earlier period where a Dinar was worth very much more. Your post helped to get my perspective a bit widened again !

Anthony

saro

Quote from: THCoins on November 20, 2016, 05:58:36 PM
huh.. 1250 Dinars ?
Yes, we are far from the gold dinar... the safavids civic copper had values of 5 or 10 dinars... :-[
"All I know is that I know nothing" (Socrates)