What is the Imperial Bank One Toman — Yazd branch overprint?

A surviving example illustrating the branch-bound nature of early Iranian paper money. It was struck in c. 1890–1923 at Imperial Bank of Persia – Yazd branch under Naser al-Din / late Qajar.

Persian Treasury

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Qajar Dynasty

Imperial Bank One Toman — Yazd branch overprint

A surviving example illustrating the branch-bound nature of early Iranian paper money.

Key specifications for Imperial Bank One Toman — Yazd branch overprint
Date	c. 1890–1923
Ruler / issuer	Naser al-Din / late Qajar
Mint	Imperial Bank of Persia – Yazd branch
Metal	Paper
Era	Qajar Dynasty (1789 – 1925 CE)
Region	Iran

Obverse

Shah portrait; 'Payable at Yazd' overprint.

Reverse

Serial numbers.

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).

Read the full Qajar Dynasty essay →

Frequently asked

What is the Imperial Bank One Toman — Yazd branch overprint?: A surviving example illustrating the branch-bound nature of early Iranian paper money. It was struck in c. 1890–1923 at Imperial Bank of Persia – Yazd branch under Naser al-Din / late Qajar.
What metal and weight is it?: Paper.
What designs appear on it?: Obverse: Shah portrait; 'Payable at Yazd' overprint. Reverse: Serial numbers.

Imperial Bank of Persia — One Toman (1906)

Muzaffar al-Din Shah era

1906

Iran's first true paper currency: the British-chartered Imperial Bank issued notes from 1890 with each branch (Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan, Bushehr, Yazd, Mashhad, Resht, Shiraz, Kermanshah) issuing non-fungible notes payable only at its own counter.

Naser al-Din Shah 1 Toman Banknote (specimen)

Naser al-Din Shah Qajar

c. 1890

The smallest denomination of the earliest Iranian banknote series.

Naser al-Din Shah 10 Toman Banknote

Naser al-Din Shah Qajar

c. 1890–1923

Mid-range Imperial Bank note; a Tehran-payable 10 toman would not be accepted in Tabriz.

Naser al-Din Shah 25 Toman Banknote (specimen)

Naser al-Din Shah Qajar

c. 1890

High-denomination Imperial Bank note — equivalent to a modest annual salary at issue.

Imperial Bank of Persia 5 Toman Banknote

Ahmad Shah Qajar era

c. 1924

Imperial Bank notes were issued payable at specific branches (Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan, Yazd, Mashhad, Shiraz, Bushehr) — a note payable at one branch could not be cashed at another without exchange. The branch-restriction made counterfeiting harder but limited use. Image: related Imperial Bank Yazd-payable Tuman.