Item number: A1338

Year: AD 1771 (AH 1185)

Material: Gold

Size: 20.9 x 19.7 mm

Weight: 2.73 g

Manufactured by: Rasht, Iran

Provenance: Heritage Auctions 2024

This is a ¼ Mohur gold coin minted in the Islamic year 1185 (AD 1771) by Karim Khan, the founder of the Zand Dynasty. The Mohur was a gold coin used in the Indian subcontinent by the Mughal Empire, and it significantly influenced neighbouring regions, including the Iranian plateau, during the 18th century.

The obverse of the coin features a bergamot motif, widely utilised in Persian art. At the centre of the motif, inscribed in Persian script from top to bottom, are the ruler’s monogram “یا کریم” (Ya Karim, representing Karim Khan), the minting location “ضرب دارالمرز رشت” (Struck in Rasht), and the Hijri year “۱۱۸۵” (1185).

The reverse of the coin is encircled by a beaded border, with the centre featuring inscriptions in the Iranian Nastaʿlīq calligraphic script. From top to bottom, it reads: “لا اله الا الله” (There is no deity but God), “محمد رسول الله” (Muhammad is the Messenger of God), and “علی ولی الله” (Ali is the appointed guardian of God). The first two lines comprise the Shahada, a central tenet of Islam, while the final line is a supplication widely used by the Shia majority in Iran, affirming Ali’s role as God’s chosen guardian.

The founder of the Zand dynasty, Karim Khan, initially served as a general under Nader Shah of the Afsharid dynasty. After Nader Shah’s assassination in AD 1747, Karim Khan took advantage of the ensuing political chaos to gradually expand his power. By AD 1750, he established the Zand dynasty with the ancient city of Shiraz in southern Iran as its capital, effectively controlling much of Iran. His reign was characterised by relative political stability and social order. Unlike previous rulers of Iran, who had adopted the title “Shah,” Karim Khan chose the title “Wazir-e-Raaya” (Representative of the People), reflecting his more populist approach. After Karim Khan’s death in AD 1779, Iran once again descended into turmoil, and in AD 1794, the Zand dynasty was replaced by the up-and-coming Qajar dynasty.

物件編號: A1338

年代: 公元 1771 年 (回曆 1185 年)

材質: 黃金

尺寸: 20.9 x 19.7 mm

重量: 2.73 g

製造地: 拉什特，伊朗

來源: 海瑞德拍賣行 2024

這是回曆1185年(公元1771年)，桑德王朝開創者卡里姆汗鑄造的面額 ¼ 莫哈爾金幣。莫哈爾是南亞次大陸上的蒙兀兒帝國使用的金幣單位，於公元18世紀也深切影響鄰近的伊朗高原。

錢幣正面是被廣泛應用在波斯藝術的香檸檬圖騰，圖騰的中央從上而下，分別以波斯文打印統治者的花押「یا کریم」(卡里木汗)、鑄造地點「ضرب دارالمرز رشت」(鑄造於拉什特)和回曆年份「۱۱۸۵」(1185)。

錢幣背面的周圍有一道珠圈，正中央則以伊朗特色的「波斯體」書法字體，從上而下依序打印「لا اله الا الله」、「محمد رسول الله」和「علی ولی الله」。前兩行是穆斯林熟悉的清真言內容「萬物非主，唯有真主，穆罕默德是真主的使者」，最後一段則是在伊朗為大宗的什葉派所使用的禱詞「阿里是阿拉選定的守護者」。

桑德王朝的奠基者卡里姆汗，起先是阿夫沙爾王朝的納迪爾沙麾下的將領。公元1747年，納迪爾沙遇刺身亡後，卡里姆汗利用時局混亂逐步擴張實力。最終於公元1750年以伊朗南部的古城設拉子為首都，建立控制大半伊朗全境的桑德王朝，其統治時期的政局和社會較為穩定。卡里姆汗在位後，並未接受過去伊朗統治者使用的「沙阿」，而是採納具有「人民的代表」意涵之「瓦齊爾·拉阿亞」作為頭銜。公元1779年，伊朗在卡里姆汗駕崩後又陷入動盪之中。公元1794年，桑德王朝為後起之秀卡扎爾王朝消滅覆亡。