Iran AH 1318 5 toman
This specimen was lot 1105 in Sincona sale 85 (Zürich, October 2023), where it sold for 39,000 CHF (about US$52,518 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"IRAN, Muzaffar al-Din Shah, 1313-1324 AH (1896-1907). 5 Tomans 1318 AH (1890/1901 AD), Tehran Mint. Lion & Sun type. Of the highest rarity, probably the only known specimen. NGC MS62. From the Kian collection, auction SINCONA 49, October 2018, lot 136. Bought from Bank Leu, Zürich, 1993. Finest certified by NGC. The Lion & Sun type 5 Tomans are medallic, however this is an unpublished regular 5 Tomans issue with the obverse of the bust type 10 Tomans."
No five tomans of any design are mentioned in the SCWC for Nasir al-Din or Muzaffar al-Din Shah. The only gold coin with a lion obverse noted therein is a 5000 dinars (half toman) of AH 1314-1315 (KM 987). Friedberg says this is a medal for valor, not a coin, and mentions issue dates AH 1300, 1308 and 1311.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 14.37 g, 0.900 fine gold, this specimen 14.33 g.
Catalog reference: KM -. Fr-53.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 85, The Kian Collection - Part 1, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2023.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
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