Iran SH1345 1/2 pahlavi

Stack's Bowers September 2024 Collector's Choice sale, lot 76606

This specimen was lot 76606 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2024), where it sold for $336. The catalog description^[1] noted, "IRAN. 1/2 Pahlavi, SH 1345 (1966). Tehran Mint. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. NGC MS-65. This charming Gem displays a bold and bright luster, with only the lightest touches of contact. An impressive representative for the connoisseur of Iranian gold seeking a lovely example of this less commonly seen date." 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 1345 = 1966 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. 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.

Recorded mintage: 40,000.

Specification: 4.06 g, 0.900 fine gold, 19 mm diameter.

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, September 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.

Link to:

• SH 1344 (1965) ½ pahlavi
• SH 1349 (1970) ½ pahlavi
• Coins and currency dated 1966