ISLAMIC, Persia (Post-Mongol). Zands. Muhammad Karim Khan, AH 1164-1193 / AD 1751-1779. 1/4 Mohur (Gold, 20 mm, 2.75 g, 2 h), type C, Kashan, AH 1190 = 1776/7. 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 dotted circle, ‘zarb-e dār al-muʾminīn Kāshān’ (‘Struck in the Abode of the Believers Kashan’ in Persian); above, ‘yā Karīm’ (‘O Generous One’ in Arabic); below, ‘1190’. Album 2791. Light areas of weakness, otherwise, extremely fine.

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