Fath-Ali Shah Nowruz Treasure Coin — Tabriz

Historical context — Qajar Dynasty

Qajar coinage introduced the Lion-and-Sun emblem, mechanised minting (1877), and the country's first banknotes (1890, Imperial Bank of Persia). Denominations: toman (gold), qiran (silver), shahi (copper).

Frequently asked

What is the Fath-Ali Shah Nowruz Treasure Coin — Tabriz?

Special presentation issue ('sekke-ye sahib-qiran') struck for the Nowruz New Year celebrations at the Tabriz mint — distributed at court as ceremonial largesse rather than circulating currency. It was struck in AH 1226 / 1811–12 CE at Tabriz under Fath-Ali Shah Qajar.

What metal and weight is it?

Silver (presentation).

What designs appear on it?

Obverse: Persian Nowruz couplet in Nastaliq calligraphy. Reverse: 'Zarb Tabriz' with the AH date.

Related pieces

Silver

Fath-Ali Shah Silver — Ganja Mint

Fath-Ali Shah Qajar

Early 19th century

Struck at the Ganja mint in the contested Caucasus frontier — the city was ceded to the Russian Empire under the 1813 Treaty of Gulistan, ending Qajar minting there. 1 toman = 10 qiran = 1000 dinars.

Silver

Fath-Ali Shah Silver — Isfahan Mint

Fath-Ali Shah Qajar

1797–1834 CE

Isfahan remained one of the principal Qajar mints, continuing the Safavid tradition. Silver issues here carried the heaviest provincial production for the central Iranian plateau.

Gold

Fath-Ali Shah Gold Toman

Fath-Ali Shah Qajar

1797–1834 CE

Heavy gold toman — first figural Iranian coin types in 1100 years on related issues.

Silver

Ahmad Shah Qajar — Tehran Mint

Ahmad Shah Qajar

1909–1925 CE

Last Qajar ruler — crowned aged 11, deposed by Reza Khan in 1925. His machine-struck Tehran-mint coinage carries solar Hijri (SH) dates.

Silver

Mozaffar al-Din Shah — Tehran Mint

Mozaffar al-Din Shah Qajar

1896–1907 CE

Mozaffar al-Din Shah signed the 1906 Constitution that established Iran's first parliament (Majles), making him the last absolute Qajar monarch. His machine-struck Tehran coinage in qirans and tomans set the standard for late-Qajar circulation.

Silver

Naser al-Din Shah Silver Qiran — Tehran

Naser al-Din Shah Qajar

1848–1896 CE

The qiran (1/10 toman) was the workhorse silver coin of Naser al-Din's 48-year reign — the longest of any Qajar shah and the longest of any Iranian monarch until the late 20th century.