Iran AH 999 1/2 mithqal

Goldberg Sale 137, lot 1397

This specimen was lot 1397 in Goldberg Sale 137 (Los Angeles, January 2024), where it sold for $228. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Iran. ½ Mithqal, AH999 (1591). Qazwin Mint. Abbas I, AH 995-1038/ 1578-1629 AD. Extremely Fine." This type was accompanied by a single mithqal (Fr-6b) and double mithqal (Fr-6a). Later in the reign, these denominations were superseded by the gold ashrafi, which was used until the mid-eighteenth century.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 2.3 g, gold, this specimen 2.3 g.

Catalog reference: Fr-6c, A.2628.

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.
• ^[1]Goldberg, Ira, Stephen Harvey and Vera Kan, Goldberg Sale 137: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, featuring the Peh Family Collection, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2023.

Link to:

• AH 987 (1579) mithqal, Qazvin mint
• AH 989 mithqal, Kashan mint
• Iran AH 1033 bisti Baghdad mint
• Coins and currency dated 1591