Persian Treasury
Naser al-Din Shah Qiran — Herat Mint, issued under Naser al-Din Shah Qajar — Silver, c. 1856 CE, mint of Herat
Qajar Dynasty

Naser al-Din Shah Qiran — Herat Mint

Issued during the brief Iranian occupation of Herat (1856), which triggered the Anglo-Persian War — by the Treaty of Paris (1857) Iran formally renounced all claims to Herat, ending centuries of Persian sovereignty over the city.

Key specifications for Naser al-Din Shah Qiran — Herat Mint
Datec. 1856 CE
Ruler / issuerNaser al-Din Shah Qajar
MintHerat
MetalSilver
Weight~4.6 g
EraQajar Dynasty (1789 – 1925 CE)
RegionIran

Obverse and reverse

Obverse

Lion-and-Sun within wreath.

Reverse

Shah's name with 'Zarb Herat'.

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 Qiran — Herat Mint?
Issued during the brief Iranian occupation of Herat (1856), which triggered the Anglo-Persian War — by the Treaty of Paris (1857) Iran formally renounced all claims to Herat, ending centuries of Persian sovereignty over the city. It was struck in c. 1856 CE at Herat under Naser al-Din Shah Qajar.
What metal and weight is it?
Silver, weighing approximately ~4.6 g.
What designs appear on it?
Obverse: Lion-and-Sun within wreath. Reverse: Shah's name with 'Zarb Herat'.

Related pieces

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 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 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 qiran, Herat →