Iran AH 1189 1/2 mohur KM-531.2

Sincona sale 92, lot 59

This specimen was lot 59 in Sincona sale 92 (Zurich, October 2024), where it sold for 1,800 CHF (about US$2,495 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"IRAN Zand Dynasty, Karim Khan, 1166-1193 AH (1753-1779). 1/2 Mohur Ashrafi 1189 AH (1775/1776), Shiraz Mint. Selten, Rare. NGC MS62. Purchased from G. Moussesian, Munich, in 1989."

The SCWC assigns the following catalog numbers to this type: KM 531.1 (Basra, struck AH 1190), KM 531.2 (Shiraz, AH 1184-1193), KM 531.3 (Tabriz, AH 1184 and 1187). Examples are known from Isfahan, a mint not listed in the SCWC. Wikipedia comments, "Mohammad Karim Khan Zand (Persian: محمدکریم خان زند‎) was the founder of the Zand Dynasty, ruling from 1751 to 1779. He ruled all of Iran (Persia) except for Khorasan. He also ruled over some of the Caucasian lands and occupied Basra for some years. Following Karim Khan's death, civil war broke out once more, and none of his descendants were able to rule the country as effectively as he had. The last of these descendants, Lotf Ali Khan, was executed by Qajar ruler Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, who became the sole ruler of Iran."

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 5.50 g, gold, this specimen 5.48 g.

Catalog reference: Album 2788, KM 531.2, Fr-19.

Source:

• Album, Stephen, Checklist of Islamic Coins, 3rd Ed. Santa Rosa, Stephen Album Rare Coins, 2011.
• 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, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
• ^[1]Richter, Jurg, SINCONA Auction 93: Russian Coins and Medals, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2024.

Link to:

• AH 1183 (1769) half mohur, Isfahan mint
• AH 1189 double abbasi, Kirman mint
• AH 1189 double abbasi, Rasht mint
• AH 1189 quarter mohur, Khuy mint
• AH 1190 (1776) half mohur, Rasht mint, Karim Khan
• Coins and currency dated 1775