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1/2 Shahi - Isma`il I Safavi Nimruz, First Standard
| Issuer | Safavid Dynasty |
|---|---|
| Year | 1502-1525 |
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| Currency | Shahi (1501-1798) |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | The obverse field is entirely occupied by a dense multi-line Arabic inscription in bold nasta'liq-influenced calligraphy, comprising the Shi'a declaration of faith (Kalima) naming Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, and Imam Ali as the wali of God, followed by the names of the Twelve Imams. The inscription fills the coin from edge to edge in a characteristic Safavid style, with no figurative imagery. A circular marginal legend in Arabic script runs along the outer border, partially visible on this irregular flan. The overall design reflects the Safavid First Standard type, introduced under Shah Isma'il I to assert Twelver Shi'a doctrine on the coinage. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Arabic |
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| Additional information |
Isma'il I founded the Safavid dynasty in 1501 and immediately imposed Twelver Shi'a Islam as the state religion — a rupture with the Sunni Ottoman and Uzbek neighbors that would define Persian politics for generations. The coinage reform that followed was among his first acts of governance, with new weight standards and Shi'a religious formulae replacing the previous Timurid and Aq Qoyunlu types. The Nimruz mint, in the remote Sistan region, operated under conditions of considerable political instability throughout his reign.
Album 2577 encompasses considerable variety across Isma'il's minting program. The "First Standard" designation distinguishes the earlier weight regime before subsequent adjustments to the shahi series.