Coins struck at Isfahan
5 catalogued coins and notes attributed to Isfahan, with weights, legends, dates and Wikimedia-sourced images across Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic, Timurid & Safavid, Afsharid & Zand.
In short
Isfahan was the Safavid capital from 1598 and one of Iran's most prolific mints, striking abbasis and their fractions in quantity as well as Seljuq, Ilkhanid, Afsharid, Zand and Qajar issues. Isfahan is a mint of the Iranian world represented in the Persian Treasury catalogue by 5 coins and notes struck between 1072 CE – 1834 CE. Its output here covers Gold, Silver in the Dinar, Rupee denominations, issued under Malik-Shah I, Shah Suleiman I, Sultan Husayn and 2 more.
- Catalogued
- 5
- Eras
- 4
- Metals
- 2
- Denominations
- 2
Key facts
| Catalogued pieces | 5 |
|---|---|
| Date range | 1072 CE – 1834 CE |
| Eras represented | Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic, Timurid & Safavid, Afsharid & Zand, Qajar Dynasty |
| Metals | Gold, Silver |
| Denominations | Dinar, Rupee |
| Issuers | Malik-Shah I, Shah Suleiman I, Sultan Husayn, Nader Shah Afshar, Fath-Ali Shah Qajar |
| Capital status | Safavid capital from 1598 |
| Main products | Abbasi, mahmudi, shahi; earlier dinars and dirhams |
| Script | Nastaliq on Safavid issues |
| Mint closed | After Tehran centralisation, late 19th century |
Half the world
Shah Abbas I moved his capital to Isfahan in 1598 and rebuilt it around the Naqsh-e Jahan square, the royal bazaar and the Chahar Bagh avenue — the ensemble that earned the proverb Isfahan nesf-e jahan, "Isfahan is half the world".
The city's mint served an imperial capital with an international trading community, and its output dominates surviving Safavid silver.
Isfahan coinage
Look for the mint name in nastaliq in the reverse field or margin. Safavid Isfahan abbasis, mahmudis and shahis are the most commonly encountered pieces; Afsharid and Zand silver from the city is scarcer, and Qajar hand-struck issues continue until Tehran centralised production after 1877.
Earlier Islamic Isfahan (as Isbahan) struck Abbasid, Buyid and Seljuq dirhams and dinars, giving the mint an almost unbroken run of a thousand years.
Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic · 651 – 1258 CE
Era overview →Timurid & Safavid · 1370 – 1736 CE
Era overview →Afsharid & Zand · 1736 – 1796 CE
Era overview →Qajar Dynasty · 1789 – 1925 CE
Era overview →Frequently asked about Isfahan
- What coins were minted in Isfahan?
- Chiefly Safavid silver abbasis and fractions, plus Abbasid, Buyid, Seljuq, Afsharid, Zand and early Qajar issues across roughly a thousand years.
- What coins were struck at Isfahan?
- Isfahan is a mint of the Iranian world represented in the Persian Treasury catalogue by 5 coins and notes struck between 1072 CE – 1834 CE. Its output here covers Gold, Silver in the Dinar, Rupee denominations, issued under Malik-Shah I, Shah Suleiman I, Sultan Husayn and 2 more.
- How many Isfahan pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
- 5 items, dated 1072 CE – 1834 CE, spread across 4 eras: Arab-Sasanian & Early Islamic, Timurid & Safavid, Afsharid & Zand, Qajar Dynasty.
- Which metals were used for Isfahan coinage?
- Gold, Silver. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
- Which denominations are associated with Isfahan?
- Dinar, Rupee. Every denomination has its own reference page with dated examples.