Essays on Persian numismatics
Long-form articles on the coins and paper money of Iran-zamin — authentication, script, iconography, grading and the dynastic histories behind the metal. New essays are published roughly twice a month.
Collecting · 12 minAuthenticating Persian Coins: A Practical Guide
Forgeries of Persian coinage are as old as the coins themselves. Most fakes betray themselves in seconds — once you know what genuine coins of each era are supposed to look like, weigh and sound like.
2026-05-12
Epigraphy · 14 minReading the Pahlavi Script on a Sasanian Drachm
Sasanian silver drachms carry the king's name, regnal year and mint signature on every flan — once you know where to look and how to read three dozen Pahlavi letters, every drachm tells you exactly where and when it was struck.
2026-05-20
Iconography · 11 minThe Lion and the Sun: A Numismatic History
The Lion and Sun stood on Iranian coins for nearly eight centuries — from a Seljuq astrological monogram to the imperial seal of two dynasties. Its history is also the history of Iranian self-representation.
2026-05-26
Collecting · 10 minGrading Iranian Coins: From Fair to Mint State
Two coins of the same king and mint can differ in value by a factor of fifty depending on grade alone. Knowing how to grade them — and how grading specialists actually look at metal — is the single most profitable skill a collector can develop.
2026-06-02