IRAN, Qajars. Muzzafar al-Din Shah, AH 1313-1324 / AD 1896-1907. 1/2 Toman (Gold, 16 mm, 1.35 g, 6 h), bust with date only, original calligraphy type, Tehran, AH 1320 = AD 1902/3. Uniformed bust of Muẓaffar al-Dīn Shāh three-quarters to right, wearing tall cap with aigrette; date divided across field, with 13 to left and 20 to right. Rev. Within wreath: al-sulṭān Muẓaffar al-Dīn Shāh Qājār (‘The Sultan Muẓaffar al-Dīn Shāh Qājār’ in Persian). Below: Tihrān (‘Tehran’ in Persian). KM 994.1. A very rare date. Struck from worn dies, with die breaks and some scratches on the obverse, otherwise, about extremely fine.


The date arrangement is especially noteworthy. The first two digits, 13, appear on the left side of the obverse field, while the final two digits, 20, appear on the right. The sharpness and boldness of the 20, especially when compared with the worn state of the rest of the die, suggest that dies bearing the fixed 13 were prepared in advance and that the final two date digits were added or altered later as required.

This likely explains why a rare date such as AH 1320 can occur on a die that otherwise appears noticeably worn. The final two digits may have been freshly cut or re-punched into an older die, creating a visible contrast between the date numerals and the surrounding design.