ISLAMIC, Persia (Post-Mongol). Zands. Muhammad Karim Khan, AH 1164-1193 / AD 1751-1779. 1/4 Mohur (Gold, 25 mm, 2.72 g, 4 h), type C, Yazd, AH 1188 = 1774/5. The Zand couplet ‘shod āftāb-o māh zar-o sim dar jahān, az sekke-ye emām-e be haq sāhebozzamān’ (‘The sun and moon became gold and silver in the world / From the coin of the rightful Imam, the Age’s Lord’ in Persian). Rev. Within a circle, ‘zarb-e dār al-ʿibād Yazd’ (‘Struck in the Abode of the Worshippers Yazd’ in Persian); above, ‘yā Karīm’ (‘O Generous One’ in Arabic); below, ‘1188’. Album 2791. Some areas of weakness and with a few scrapes, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

From the Asha & Ardeshir Dabestani Collection, formed over the past four decades.