Persian Treasury
Ruler

Coinage of Reza Shah

1 catalogued issue of Reza Shah — metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions with references.

In short

Reza Shah (1925–1941) founded the Pahlavi dynasty and rebuilt Iran's monetary system from the ground up — the rial in place of the toman, a national bank with note-issuing power, and a modern state mint. Reza Shah issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 1317 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Paper money at Bank Melli Iran (printed by Harrison & Sons, London).

Catalogued
1
Eras
1
Metals
1
Denominations
1

Key facts

Key facts about Reza Shah in the Persian Treasury catalogue
Catalogued pieces1
Date range1317 CE
Eras representedPahlavi Dynasty
MetalsPaper money
DenominationsRial
MintsBank Melli Iran (printed by Harrison & Sons, London)
Reign1925–1941
Currency reformRial replaces toman/kran, 1932
Note issueTransferred to Bank Melli Iran, 1930
Gold pahlavi8.136 g at 0.900 (7.32 g fine)

The 1932 reform

The rial replaced the kran and toman as the legal unit of account, note issue passed from the British-chartered Imperial Bank to Bank Melli Iran, and the coinage moved decisively toward base metal for everyday denominations.

The reform was one part of a wider programme: the Trans-Iranian Railway, conscription, a national judiciary, secular schooling and the 1935 request that the country be called Iran internationally.

Pahlavi coinage

Silver rials of the 1930s carry the shah's profile and the imperial crown; gold pahlavis at 8.136 g of 0.900 fine gold begin the modern bullion series. Commemoratives mark events such as the first Nowruz of the reign.

He abdicated under Anglo-Soviet pressure in 1941 and died in exile in 1944. His coinage remains widely collected and is generally affordable outside the gold.

Pahlavi Dynasty · 1925 – 1979 CE

Era overview →

Bank Melli 100 Rial (Reza Shah)

Reza Shah

SH 1317 / 1938

First series of Bank Melli notes featuring the new shah.

Frequently asked about Reza Shah

What did Reza Shah change about Iranian money?
He replaced the toman and kran with the rial in 1932, moved note issue to the national bank, and modernised minting with machine-struck silver and base-metal coinage.
What is a gold pahlavi worth?
It tracks the gold price with a modest numismatic premium: 8.136 g at 0.900 fineness gives 7.32 g of pure gold, the same as a British sovereign.
What coins did Reza Shah issue?
Reza Shah issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 1317 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Paper money at Bank Melli Iran (printed by Harrison & Sons, London).
How many Reza Shah pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
1 item, dated 1317 CE, spread across 1 era: Pahlavi Dynasty.
Which metals were used for Reza Shah coinage?
Paper money. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
Which denominations are associated with Reza Shah?
Rial. Every denomination has its own reference page with dated examples.
Where were Reza Shah coins minted?
Recorded mints include Bank Melli Iran (printed by Harrison & Sons, London).

Explore related hubs

Denominations here

Metals here