Iran SH1344 1/2 pahlavi
This specimen was lot 1031 in Stephen Album sale 43 (Santa Rosa, CA, May 2022), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "IRAN: Mohammad Reza Shah, 1941-1979, AV ½ pahlavi, SH1344, AU." When Reza Shah seized the throne in 1925, he adopted the solar Hegira calendar, which used the Gregorian calendar but deducted 621 years. Thus, SH 1344 = 1965 AD. In 1931, the system was reformed and 100 dinars = one rial. This type, struck SH 1330-1353 during the reign of Muhammed Reza Shah (r. 1941-79), was minted to the standard of a British half sovereign. The relief was lowered in 1951 to reduce persistent striking weakness. The coins generally trade as bullion coins.
Recorded mintage: 30,000, a slightly better date.
Specification: 4.07 g, 0.900 fine gold, 0.1177 troy oz.
Catalog reference: Fr-102; KM-1161.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 43, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2022.
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