IRAN, Qajars. Muzzafar al-Din Shah, AH 1313-1324 / AD 1896-1907. Toman (Gold, 19 mm, 2.84 g, 6 h), bust with full legends, Tehran, AH 1321 = AD 1903/4. Uniformed bust of Muẓaffar al-Dīn Shāh three-quarters to right, wearing tall cap with aigrette. To left: sanat 1314 julūs-i salṭanat (‘Year 1314 of the royal accession’ in Persian). To right: zarb-i Īrān sanat 1321 (‘Struck in Iran, year 1321’ in Persian). Rev. Within wreath: al-sulṭān Muẓaffar al-Dīn Shāh Qājār (‘The Sultan Muẓaffar al-Dīn Shāh Qājār’ in Persian). Below: Tihrān (‘Tehran’ in Persian). Fr. 70. KM 995. A very rare date. The usual areas of weakness and some die breaks, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.


The date AH 1321 is a very rare date for the gold toman of Muẓaffar al-Dīn Shāh. The second and third numerals of the date have been individually punched and altered in the die, suggesting that an existing die was modified for use in this year rather than fully re-engraved.