What is an abbasi coin?

The abbasi is the Safavid silver denomination introduced under Shah Abbas I at about 7.7 g; it became the standard Iranian silver unit and its name survived into Qajar accounting.

Do Shah Abbas coins show his portrait?

No. Safavid coinage is purely epigraphic — the Shi'a kalima on one side, the ruler's name, titles, mint and AH date on the other.

How many Shah Abbas I pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?

1 item, dated 1588 CE – 1629 CE, spread across 1 era: Timurid & Safavid.

Which metals were used for Shah Abbas I coinage?

Silver. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.

Where were Shah Abbas I coins minted?

Recorded mints include Mashhad.

Persian Treasury

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Ruler

Coinage of Shah Abbas I

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

In short

Shah Abbas I (r. 1588–1629) was the Safavid ruler who moved the capital to Isfahan and standardised Iran's silver abbasi — the coin that carries his name and set the money of Iran for a century. Shah Abbas I issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 1588 CE – 1629 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Silver at Mashhad.

Catalogued: 1
Eras: 1
Metals: 1
Denominations: 0

Key facts

Key facts about Shah Abbas I in the Persian Treasury catalogue
Catalogued pieces	1
Date range	1588 CE – 1629 CE
Eras represented	Timurid & Safavid
Metals	Silver
Mints	Mashhad
Reign	1588–1629 CE (996–1038 AH)
Dynasty	Safavid
Named denomination	Abbasi, ~7.7 g silver
Capital	Isfahan (from 1598)

Who was Shah Abbas the Great?

Abbas I inherited a state losing ground to the Ottomans and Uzbeks, rebuilt the army around gunpowder units loyal to the crown rather than the Qizilbash tribes, and recovered Tabriz, Baghdad and Hormuz. His new capital at Isfahan — the Naqsh-e Jahan square, the royal bazaar, the Chahar Bagh — remains the visual definition of Safavid Iran.

The abbasi and Safavid money

The denomination named after him, the abbasi, was struck at roughly 7.7 g of good silver at the start of the reform and drifted lighter over the following century. Its fractions — the mahmudi (half), shahi (quarter) and bisti — did the everyday work, while gold ashrafi were issued largely for gift and ceremonial purposes.

Safavid coins carry no portrait. The obverse gives the Shi'a kalima with 'Ali wali Allah', the reverse the ruler's name and titles with the mint and AH date, in a flowing nastaliq that is itself a dating criterion.

Identification

Expect a broad, thin flan, often struck off-centre so part of the marginal legend is lost — that is normal for the series and not a defect of the particular coin. Mint names to look for include Isfahan, Tabriz, Qazvin, Mashhad, Ganja, Tiflis and Kashan. Dates run 996–1038 AH (1588–1629 CE).

Timurid & Safavid · 1370 – 1736 CE

Era overview →

Shah Abbas I 'the Great' — Mashhad

Shah Abbas I

1588–1629 CE

Shah Abbas built modern Iran — a centralised administration, the relocated capital at Isfahan, and a silk monopoly that drew European trading companies. The 'abbasi' silver coin (~7.7 g) bearing his name became the gold standard of Indian Ocean trade for two centuries.

Frequently asked about Shah Abbas I

What is an abbasi coin?: The abbasi is the Safavid silver denomination introduced under Shah Abbas I at about 7.7 g; it became the standard Iranian silver unit and its name survived into Qajar accounting.
Do Shah Abbas coins show his portrait?: No. Safavid coinage is purely epigraphic — the Shi'a kalima on one side, the ruler's name, titles, mint and AH date on the other.
What coins did Shah Abbas I issue?: Shah Abbas I issued 1 catalogued coin type dated 1588 CE – 1629 CE, recorded here with metal, weight, mint, obverse and reverse descriptions. The surviving issues in this catalogue are struck in Silver at Mashhad.
How many Shah Abbas I pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?: 1 item, dated 1588 CE – 1629 CE, spread across 1 era: Timurid & Safavid.
Which metals were used for Shah Abbas I coinage?: Silver. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
Where were Shah Abbas I coins minted?: Recorded mints include Mashhad.

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