Moneta's Temple and Gallery

Iran - 10 Rials 1944

Moneta — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 15:54:41 -0500

by: Moneta

Description: Here the obverse/reverse are reversed. Obverse legend is "Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi." This is a nice example graded MS65 by NGC, most of it is well struck up.

Iran - Islamic Republic 50 Dinars - 1979

Moneta — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 20:28:04 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: This brass clad or plated steel 50 Dinars was only struck during a portion of 1979. A very similar coin was struck in the first part of 1979 under the Shah Reza Pahlavi. The Iranian Revolution, also known as the Islamic Revolution or the 1979 Revolution was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and the replacement of his government with an Islamic republic under the Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The Islamic state forbids depiction of people and animals, on their coins particularly. So it's a wonder that this coin under the Islamic state was struck at all. Thereafter, up to the present, only Rials are minted. To tell the truth I'm still not certain you can tell the difference but I purchased this as and Islamic Republic coin. One is described as brass clad steel, the other as brass plated steel. Either way the depiction of a lion holding saber with resplendent sun behind is a design that should not have been struck by the devout Islamic Republic. The design of a lion before the sun has a long tradition in the Islamic world beginning with the Seljuq Turks in Anatolia (Turkey). See an example here in the Moneta Museum at this: http://www.moneta-coins.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=1868&title=seljuk-of-rumkaykhusraw-ii-dinar-of-konya-1240-a-d-&cat=840

Iran - 25 Rials 2500th Anniversary of Persia - 1971

Moneta — Sat, 24 Jun 2017 20:32:27 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: This is part of a beautiful series of proof coins celebrating the 2500 Anniversary of the Persian Empire. This one depicts a figure of what appears to be back to back bulls atop a column. This column is at the Palace of Artaxerxes at Susa. This one year type had a mintage of 18,000. Other info says: Capital of a column from the audience hall of the palace of Darius I, Susa, c. 510 B.C.E., Achaemenid, Tell of the Apadana, Susa, Iran (Louvre).

Iran - Khomeini Azadi

Moneta — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 17:51:34 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Islamic Republic bullion coinage issued by the National Bank of Iran. Obverse features a mosque with the legends "The Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran" and (perhaps) "Spring of Freedom". Reverse features a facing 3/4 portrait of Khomeini. Another type celebrating him shows a left facing portrait. This specimen is featured on the PCGS site at this https://images.pcgs.com/CoinFacts/37311340_167786799_max.jpg Ruhollah Mostafavi Moosavi Khomeini, (24 September 1902 - 3 June 1989), was an Iranian religious leader and politician, and leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran. Following the revolution, Khomeini became the country's Supreme Leader, a position created in the constitution as the highest ranking political and religious authority of the nation, which he held until his death. After coming to power, Khomeini ordered the destruction of Reza Shah's mausoleum, and executed opposition members by the tens of thousands. Khomeini's killing spree included 1988 executions of Iranian political prisoners among many others. Khomeini used religion to gain and justify his political power. Khomeinis close circle created a myth around him and elevated him to God-like status. (Wikipedia) The mosque depicted is probably the Imam Ridha Mosque in NE Iran, at Mashdad. It entombs the remains of the eighth, "Twelver" Shiah Imam, 'Ali al-Ridha'. The mosque-complex is the largest mosque in the world.

Iran - Persian Emp. 2500th Anniversary

Moneta — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 17:18:04 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Part of the 2500th Anniversary of the Persian Empire series under Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. There are four archaeological themes in this series (+ conjoined busts of the royal couple), I think the famous wall at Susa depicting the winged griffin with antlers is the best. Others are a column from Susa, a cylinder stone of Cyrus II, and a view of the ruins of Darius I palace in Persepolis. The griffin-lion, often represented at Susa, is here pictured on an element of architectural decoration from the palace of King Darius I the Great (522-486 BC). Another feature of the wall, not represented on this series of coins, are the equally interesting winged bulls.

Iran - Pahlavi - USA Mint 1943

Moneta — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 12:33:54 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: This 3 or 4 year type, before the portrait coin design, is first seen with the date AH 1320, but this is considered a possible pattern and is very scarce. This piece is particulary interesting and significant because is was struck by the U.S. Mint post the 1933 gold ban; this 1943 date ONLY [AH1322]. Listed as Bullion Value in KM VF & below you will find it hard not to pay a high premium on this coin with a U.S. mintage report of 16,053. This coin will be mentioned in my article on the Saudi/ARAMCO gold discs. Similar coins were struck in the 1/2 Pahlavi denomination [mintage: 89,108] The Philadelphia mint coined gold pahlevis (16,053) and half-pahlevis (89,108) for Iran in 1943, as shown by The Report of the Director of the Mint for 1943. This report referred to this coin in a footnote and stated: "These coins are objects of value, rather than a circulating medium."

Iran Half Pahlavi

Moneta — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 14:54:56 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: This piece is particulary interesting and significant because is was struck by the U.S. Mint post 1933 gold ban; this 1943 date ONLY. Listed as Bullion Value in KM VF & below you will find it hard not to pay a high premium on this coin with a U.S. mintage report of 89,108. This coin will be mentioned in my article on the Saudi/ARAMCO gold discs. Similar coins were struck in the Pahlavi denomination (mintage: 16,053). This coin is a borrowed photo and not in the Museum. The Philadelphia mint coined gold pahlevis (16,053) and half-pahlevis (89,108) for Iran in 1943, as shown by The Report of the Director of the Mint for 1943. This report referred to this coin in a footnote and stated: "These coins are objects of value, rather than a circulating medium."