The Abbasi: a Persian numismatic guide
Safavid silver abbasi, the standard denomination named for Shah Abbas I. 3 catalogued examples spanning Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic, Timurid & Safavid.
In short
The abbasi is the Safavid silver denomination introduced under Shah Abbas I at roughly 7.7 g, the standard Iranian silver unit for over a century and the parent of the mahmudi, shahi and bisti fractions. The Abbasi is a Persian and Iranian denomination represented by 3 catalogued examples dated 158 CE – 1694 CE. Safavid silver abbasi, the standard denomination named for Shah Abbas I. Examples here are struck in Gold, Silver at mints including No mint name (likely Madinat al-Salam / Baghdad), Tabaristan, Sistan.
- Catalogued
- 3
- Eras
- 2
- Metals
- 2
- Denominations
- 3
Key facts
| Catalogued pieces | 3 |
|---|---|
| Date range | 158 CE – 1694 CE |
| Eras represented | Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic, Timurid & Safavid |
| Metals | Gold, Silver |
| Denominations | Dinar, Abbasi, Drachm |
| Mints | No mint name (likely Madinat al-Salam / Baghdad), Tabaristan, Sistan |
| Issuers | Caliph Harun al-Rashid, Issued under Caliph al-Mahdi, Shah Suleiman I (Safavid) |
| Introduced | Under Shah Abbas I (r. 1588–1629) |
| Weight | ~7.7 g at reform, declining thereafter |
| Fractions | Mahmudi (½), shahi (¼), bisti (1/20) |
| Script | Nastaliq |
The denomination system
One abbasi equalled two mahmudi, four shahi or twenty bisti (the name means "twenty"). Everyday transactions used the fractions; the abbasi itself functioned as the substantial silver unit and the basis of state accounting.
The nominal weight of about 7.7 g at the reform of Shah Abbas I drifts steadily lighter across the seventeenth century as silver tightened, and later Safavid abbasis can fall well below 6 g. Weight is therefore a dating tool as much as a specification.
Reading a Safavid abbasi
The obverse carries the Shi'a kalima with 'Ali wali Allah', often with the Twelve Imams named in the margin. The reverse gives the shah's name and titles with the mint and AH date, in flowing nastaliq.
Broad, thin, off-centre strikes are the norm, so judge the coin on the legibility of the central legend, mint and date rather than on a complete circular border.
Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic · 651 – 1258 CE
Era overview →Timurid & Safavid · 1370 – 1736 CE
Era overview →Frequently asked about Abbasi
- What is an abbasi coin?
- The Safavid silver denomination named for Shah Abbas I, struck at about 7.7 g and subdivided into mahmudi, shahi and bisti.
- How do you date a Safavid abbasi?
- By the AH year in the reverse field or margin, cross-checked against the shah named in the legend and the coin's weight, which declines steadily through the seventeenth century.
- What is a Abbasi?
- The Abbasi is a Persian and Iranian denomination represented by 3 catalogued examples dated 158 CE – 1694 CE. Safavid silver abbasi, the standard denomination named for Shah Abbas I. Examples here are struck in Gold, Silver at mints including No mint name (likely Madinat al-Salam / Baghdad), Tabaristan, Sistan.
- How many Abbasi pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
- 3 items, dated 158 CE – 1694 CE, spread across 2 eras: Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic, Timurid & Safavid.
- Which metals were used for Abbasi coinage?
- Gold, Silver. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
- Where were Abbasi coins minted?
- Recorded mints include No mint name (likely Madinat al-Salam / Baghdad), Tabaristan, Sistan.