Iran AH 1268 toman KM-853.6

from Goldberg sale 136, lot 397

This specimen was lot 397 in Goldberg sale 136 (Los Angeles, September 2023), where it sold for $504. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Iran. Toman, AH1268 (1852). Nasir al-Din Shah, AH1264-1313/1848-1896AD. PCGS graded AU-58." The auctioneers did not specify the mint for this issue, which was struck at Astarabad (KM 853.1, no 1268), Hamadan (853.2), Isfahan (853.3, 1274 only), Khoy (853.4, no 1268), Kirmanshahan (853.5, no 1268), Mashhad (853.6), Qazvin (853.7), Rasht (KM 853.8), Sarakha (853.9, 1276 only), Tabaristan (853.10, no 1268), Tabriz (KM 853.11), Tehran (853.12, no 1268). We identify it as Mashhad from the square on the obverse. With the coming of the milled coinage in AH 1293, all of the branch mints were closed and all production was completed in Tehran.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 3.45 g, gold, this specimen 3.42 g.

Catalog reference: Fr-45, KM-853.6.

Sources:

• 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, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Goldberg, Ira, Stephen Harvey and Vera Kan, Goldberg Sale 136: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2023.

Link to:

• AH 1267 (1850) half kran, Shiraz mint
• AH 1267 (1850) toman, Rasht mint
• AH 1268 kran, Kirman mint
• AH 1268 toman, Rasht mint
• AH 1268 toman, Tabriz mint
• AH 1270 (1853) toman, Rasht mint
• AH 1271 toman, Qazvin mint
• AH 1271 toman, Tehran mint
• AH 1271 2 toman, Isfahan mint, shah seated
• AH 1271 2 toman, Kirmanshahan mint
• Coins and currency dated 1851