ISLAMIC, Persia (Post-Mongol). Safavids. Mohammad Khudabanda, AH 985-995 / AD 1578-1587. 1/2 Mithqal (Gold, 15 mm, 2.32 g, 5 h), type A, Harat (Herat), date effaced. Shiʿa kalima in the center, ‘lā ilāha illā Allāh / Muḥammad / rasūl Allāh / ʿAlī / walī Allāh’ (‘There is no deity but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Ali is the friend of Allah’ in Arabic); marginal legends effaced. Rev. ‘[Ghulām] Imām Muḥammad Mahdī [ʿalayh wa ābāʾihī al-salām] Abu’l-Muẓaffar sulṭān Muḥammad pādshāh ḍarb Harāt …’ (‘The servant of Imam Muhammad Mahdi, peace be upon him and his fathers, Abu’l-Muzaffar Sultan Muhammad, the King. Struck in Harat …’ in Arabic). Album 2617.1. Rare. In NGC encapsulation, graded XF 45. Struck somewhat off center and with some deposits, otherwise, very fine.

From the Asha & Ardeshir Dabestani Collection, ex Album 48, 18 January 2024, 571.