Persia (Post-Mongol). Safavids. Abu Turab Isma'il III, AH 1163-1179 / AD 1750-1765. Rupi (Silver, 22 mm, 11.63 g, 12 h), type A, Rasht, AH 1166 = AD 1752/3. Within circle with pearl decorations, rosettes and floral ornaments: bandih-yi shāh-i wilāyat Ismāʿīl zarb-i Rasht 1166 (‘The servant of the Shah of sanctity, Ismāʿīl, struck at Rasht, 1166’ in Persian). Rev. Shiʿi Shahada within circle: lā ilāha illā Allāh Muḥammad rasūl Allāh wa ʿAlī walī Allāh (‘There is no deity but God, Muhammad is the Messenger of God, and ʿAlī is the walī of God’ in Arabic). Album 2702. Farahbakhsh -, cf. 189.2 (different date and variety). Very rare variety of this already rare type, with an apparently unique arrangement of the mint-name and beautiful calligraphy. Slightly cleaned and a test cut on the edge, otherwise, very fine.


The present coin is particularly notable for its unusual arrangement of the mint-name. On most recorded and market specimens of this Rasht rupi type, including examples in the references and on Zeno, zarb appears at the end of the obverse legend and Rasht is placed in the middle line.

On this specimen, however, the die engraver moved Rasht to the final line. This arrangement represents an extremely rare and interesting variety of the Rasht AH 1166 rupi.

The obverse formula bandih-yi shāh-i wilāyat Ismāʿīl continues a long Safavid epigraphic tradition in which royal authority is expressed through devotion to Imam ʿAlī.