Iran AH 1137 abbasi KM-339

Sincona sale 88, lot 42

This specimen was lot 42 in Sincona sale 88 (Zurich, May 2024), where it sold for 120 CHF (about US$159 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"IRAN, Hotak Dynasty, Ashraf, 1137-1142 AH (1724-1729). 4 Shahi 1137/1140 AH (1724/1727), Isfahan Mint. Sehr selten, Sehr schön-vorzüglich, Leicht gereinigt; Very rare. Very fine-extremely fine. Lightly cleaned. Purchased from B. Alaedini, Los Angeles, California, in 2009."

Wikipedia comments, "The Hotak dynasty (Pashto: د هوتکيانو ټولواکمني Persian: امپراتوری هوتکیان) was an Afghan monarchy founded by Ghilji Pashtuns that briefly ruled portions of Iran and Afghanistan during the 1720s. It was established in April 1709 by Mirwais Hotak, who led a successful rebellion against the declining Persian Safavid empire." Ashraf Shah was the fourth shah of the Hotaks but defeat at the hands of Nadir Khan crushed his hopes of succeeding the Safavids. His coinage and that of the other Hotaks are usually included with the Safavids even tho the Hotaks were Afghans and Sunni Muslims. This silver issue was struck AH 1137 only altho some have garbled dates.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 4.6 g, silver, this specimen 4.63 g.

Catalog reference: Album 2721, KM 339, Farahbakhsh 210-1.

Source:

• Album, Stephen, Checklist of Islamic Coins, 3rd Ed. Santa Rosa, Stephen Album Rare Coins, 2011.
• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
• ^[1]Richter, Jurg, SINCONA Auction 88, The Kian Collection - Part II, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2024.

Link to:

• AH 1135 5 shahi, Isfahan mint, Mahmud Shah
• AH 1135 ashrafi, Isfahan mint, Mahmud Shah
• AH 1135 ashrafi, Qazvin mint, Tahmasp II
• AH 1136 ashrafi, Tabriz mint
• AH 1137 ashrafi, Isfahan mint, Mahmud Shah
• AH 1139 ashrafi, Mashhad mint
• Coins and currency dated 1724