Coinage of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar
4 catalogued issues of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar — metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions with references.
In short
Fath-Ali Shah Qajar (r. 1797–1834) restored the royal portrait to Iranian coinage after more than a thousand years, showing himself enthroned in full regalia on gold tomans that are among the most striking objects in Iranian numismatics. Fath-Ali Shah Qajar issued 4 catalogued coin types dated 12 CE – 1834 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Gold, Silver at Tabriz (also Tehran, Isfahan), Ganja (Caucasus), Isfahan and 1 more.
- Catalogued
- 4
- Eras
- 1
- Metals
- 2
- Denominations
- 1
Key facts
| Catalogued pieces | 4 |
|---|---|
| Date range | 12 CE – 1834 CE |
| Eras represented | Qajar Dynasty |
| Metals | Gold, Silver |
| Denominations | Toman |
| Mints | Tabriz (also Tehran, Isfahan), Ganja (Caucasus), Isfahan, Tabriz |
| Reign | 1797–1834 CE |
| Dynasty | Qajar |
| Innovation | Return of the royal portrait to Iranian coinage |
| Gold | Toman and multiples, hand-struck |
| Reverse | Lion and Sun |
The reign
Fath-Ali Shah's long reign is remembered for the disastrous Russo-Persian wars that cost Iran the Caucasus under the treaties of Gulistan (1813) and Turkmanchay (1828), and for an extraordinary programme of royal image-making in painting, rock relief and coinage.
That programme is the point of his coinage: an explicit revival of Sasanian royal representation, with the long black beard, the Kayanid crown and the jewelled robe repeated across media.
His coinage
Gold tomans and multiples carry the seated or standing royal figure on presentation pieces, with the Lion and Sun on the reverse; ordinary silver krans and copper fulus use inscriptional designs. All are hand-struck on irregular flans, often with the legend partly off the coin.
Mints include Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, Mashhad, Shiraz, Yazd, Kashan and Kermanshah. Presentation gold is scarce and expensive; ordinary silver is affordable.
Qajar Dynasty · 1789 – 1925 CE
Era overview →Frequently asked about Fath-Ali Shah Qajar
- Why is Fath-Ali Shah important in Iranian numismatics?
- He reintroduced figural royal imagery to Iranian coinage for the first time since the Sasanians, establishing the portrait-and-Lion-and-Sun formula that defined Qajar money.
- What coins did Fath-Ali Shah Qajar issue?
- Fath-Ali Shah Qajar issued 4 catalogued coin types dated 12 CE – 1834 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Gold, Silver at Tabriz (also Tehran, Isfahan), Ganja (Caucasus), Isfahan and 1 more.
- How many Fath-Ali Shah Qajar pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
- 4 items, dated 12 CE – 1834 CE, spread across 1 era: Qajar Dynasty.
- Which metals were used for Fath-Ali Shah Qajar coinage?
- Gold, Silver. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
- Which denominations are associated with Fath-Ali Shah Qajar?
- Toman. Every denomination has its own reference page with dated examples.
- Where were Fath-Ali Shah Qajar coins minted?
- Recorded mints include Tabriz (also Tehran, Isfahan), Ganja (Caucasus), Isfahan, Tabriz.
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