Persian Treasury
Naser al-Din Shah 50 Dinar Copper, issued under Naser al-Din Shah Qajar — Copper, 1848–1896 CE, mint of Tehran (machine-struck)
Qajar Dynasty

Naser al-Din Shah 50 Dinar Copper

Low-denomination copper coin (1/2 shahi = 50 dinar) for everyday market transactions. The 1877 mechanisation finally drove out the old hand-struck 'falus' coppers that had varied wildly between local mints.

Key specifications for Naser al-Din Shah 50 Dinar Copper
Date1848–1896 CE
Ruler / issuerNaser al-Din Shah Qajar
MintTehran (machine-struck)
MetalCopper
EraQajar Dynasty (1789 – 1925 CE)
RegionIran

Obverse and reverse

Obverse

Lion-and-Sun emblem.

Reverse

Value '50 Dinar' and AH date.

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 Naser al-Din Shah 50 Dinar Copper?
Low-denomination copper coin (1/2 shahi = 50 dinar) for everyday market transactions. The 1877 mechanisation finally drove out the old hand-struck 'falus' coppers that had varied wildly between local mints. It was struck in 1848–1896 CE at Tehran (machine-struck) under Naser al-Din Shah Qajar.
What metal and weight is it?
Copper.
What designs appear on it?
Obverse: Lion-and-Sun emblem. Reverse: Value '50 Dinar' and AH date.

Related pieces

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.

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.

Naser al-Din Shah Gold Toman — Tehran

Naser al-Din Shah Qajar

1848–1896 CE

Standard one-toman gold piece from the Tehran mint after the 1877 mechanisation. Naser al-Din Shah's three European tours (1873, 1878, 1889) brought back the milling technology and bank-charter ideas that transformed Iranian money.

Naser al-Din Shah 10 Toman Gold

Naser al-Din Shah Qajar

Late 19th century

Heavy ceremonial gold piece — among the largest circulating Iranian gold coins of the 19th century. Rare in collectors' hands; struck primarily for royal gifts and bullion reserve.

Source

Commons – Naser al-Din 50 dinars →