Iran SH1349 1/2 pahlavi

Stack's Bowers May 2024 Collector's Choice sale, lot 33348

This specimen was lot 33348 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2024), where it sold for $336. The catalog description^[1] noted, "IRAN. 1/2 Pahlavi, SH 1349 (1970). Tehran Mint. Muhammad Reza Pahlavi. NGC MS-66. A flashy Gem example with full cartwheel luster and great eye catching golden yellow hue." The Qajar empire was nearly bankrupt by the end of the 1800’s, and the dynasty finally fell when Reza Khan, a commander of the Persian Cossack Brigade, led a coup d’etat and launched the Pahlavi Dynasty in 1925 AD. This type was struck SH 1330-1353 and is common. It has the same amount of gold as the British half sovereign. Gold one (Fr-101), 2½ (Fr-100), five (Fr-99) and ten pahlavis also exist. As the pahlavi was always sold at its gold price, it had no fixed ratio to the rial. The shah was overthrown in 1979 and he died the next year.

Recorded mintage: 80,000.

Specification: 4.06 g, 0.900 fine gold, 0.1177 troy oz AGW.

Catalog reference: Fr-102; KM-1161.

Source:

• 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, May 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.

Link to:

• SH 1345 (1966) ½ pahlavi
• SH 1348 50 dinars
• SH 1348 (1969) 2½ pahlavi
• SH 1350 ½ pahlavi
• AH 1350 (1971) pahlavi
• Coins and currency dated 1970