Coins struck at Imperial Bank of Persia
6 catalogued coins and notes attributed to Imperial Bank of Persia, with weights, legends, dates and Wikimedia-sourced images across Qajar Dynasty.
In short
The Imperial Bank of Persia, a British-chartered bank granted a sixty-year note monopoly in 1889, printed Iran's first modern banknotes — toman notes payable in silver at a named branch city. Imperial Bank of Persia is a mint of the Iranian world represented in the Persian Treasury catalogue by 6 coins and notes struck between 1890 CE – 1924 CE. Its output here covers Paper money in the Toman, Rial denominations, issued under Muzaffar al-Din Shah era, Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, Naser al-Din / late Qajar and 1 more.
- Catalogued
- 6
- Eras
- 1
- Metals
- 1
- Denominations
- 2
Key facts
| Catalogued pieces | 6 |
|---|---|
| Date range | 1890 CE – 1924 CE |
| Eras represented | Qajar Dynasty |
| Metals | Paper money |
| Denominations | Toman, Rial |
| Issuers | Muzaffar al-Din Shah era, Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, Naser al-Din / late Qajar, Ahmad Shah Qajar era |
| Concession | 1889, sixty-year note monopoly |
| Unit | Toman, payable at a named branch |
| Printer | Bradbury Wilkinson, London |
| Monopoly ended | 1930, transferred to Bank Melli Iran |
A concession-era currency
The 1889 concession to Baron Julius de Reuter gave a London-registered bank exclusive rights to issue paper money in Iran. Notes were printed by Bradbury Wilkinson in England, denominated in tomans, and — crucially — payable only at the branch named on the face: Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan, Mashhad, Shiraz, Yazd, Bushire, Rasht and others.
That branch restriction makes Imperial Bank notes a geographic series. Scarce branches command large premiums over the same denomination from Tehran, and a note that circulated far from its issuing city is uncommon.
Collecting Imperial Bank notes
Most surviving examples are cancelled — punch-holed or stamped when redeemed — because the bank destroyed or perforated returned paper. Uncancelled circulated notes are considerably rarer, and any note with full margins and intact corners sits at the top of the market.
The monopoly ended in 1930 when Bank Melli Iran took over note issue, closing the series at just over forty years and giving it a fixed, collectable extent.
Qajar Dynasty · 1789 – 1925 CE
Era overview →Frequently asked about Imperial Bank of Persia
- What were the first Iranian banknotes?
- The toman notes of the Imperial Bank of Persia, issued from 1890 under an 1889 British concession and payable in silver at the branch city printed on the note.
- Why do Imperial Bank notes name a city?
- Each note was redeemable only at its issuing branch. The branch name is therefore part of the type, and scarce branches are worth far more than Tehran issues.
- Are cancelled notes collectable?
- Yes — most survivors are cancelled, so they form the accessible end of the series. Uncancelled examples are markedly scarcer and priced accordingly.
- What coins were struck at Imperial Bank of Persia?
- Imperial Bank of Persia is a mint of the Iranian world represented in the Persian Treasury catalogue by 6 coins and notes struck between 1890 CE – 1924 CE. Its output here covers Paper money in the Toman, Rial denominations, issued under Muzaffar al-Din Shah era, Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, Naser al-Din / late Qajar and 1 more.
- How many Imperial Bank of Persia pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
- 6 items, dated 1890 CE – 1924 CE, spread across 1 era: Qajar Dynasty.
- Which metals were used for Imperial Bank of Persia coinage?
- Paper money. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
- Which denominations are associated with Imperial Bank of Persia?
- Toman, Rial. Every denomination has its own reference page with dated examples.