Oblong civic copper of Rasht / fish - 1045 AH

[saro]

10,70g / 29 x 17 mm
In nice condition, dated (1)045 AH with the mintname half cut at top.
" ضرب فلوس رشت ۱۰۴۵ zarb falus Rasht (1)045"

[THCoins]

Love the fish ! Like it's jumping right out of the water.

Anthony

[saro]

Love the fish ! Like it's jumping right out of the water.

yes, very expressive indeed !

This coin shows R-shaped ornaments, which are also found on some other coins of the same period (Tabriz specially); these ornaments were at the origin of the attribution to "Ra'nash" of "lion & sun" round coins dated 1033 & 1034 AH).
The existence of this mint listed in all the catalogues has been questioned recently: the good reading would be in fact  'Abbas "and not" Ra'nash ".

the struggle is still open between supporters of Ra'nash  رعناش and those of 'Abbas عباس  ...

[Figleaf]

But is there actually a geographical entity called Abbas, rather than Bandar Abbas?

Peter

[saro]

But is there actually a geographical entity called Abbas, rather than Bandar Abbas?

I think no...
Even if the reading seems to be well " 'Abbas", the problem is actually not fully resolved... 
Wether the legend " zarb falus-e 'Abbas"  means " struck copper coin of (Shah) 'Abbas" or "copper coin struck at (Bandar-e) 'Abbas is not at all clear 
The things that could support the second reading (Zarb falus (Bandar-e) 'Abbas are that these coins are dated 1033 & 1034 AH ; 1033 was the year after the fort of Hormuz island was taken from portuguese with the help of british navy ; this was considered as a major success in South by Safavids and  in 1032-33  (1622 AD) a new harbor city was built by Shah ’Abbas,  named « Bandar-e ‘Abbas ».

My feeling is that's "zarb falus-e 'Abbas" , without mintname....

[andyg]

Whatever it says it's still a nice coin, scarce too!

[saro]

Thank you Andyg !
There  is no problem for the mintname of this oblong civic copper; only its  R-shaped ornaments could well explain the reading of the coins attributed to "Ra'nash" by scholars for a good century ...coins which, besides, are usely in not so good grade, even no so scarce that they were formerly thought.
see this thread and this one