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1/4 Mithqal - Tahmasp I Safavi Qazwin - Fourth Gold Standard
| Issuer | Safavid Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 1524-1576 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1/4 Ashrafi (12) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | The obverse presents a densely packed Arabic calligraphic field executed in bold, raised naskh/thuluth script characteristic of Safavid hammered coinage. The central legend reads the Shahada and Ali formula: 'La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad rasul Allah, Ali wali Allah' (There is no god but God, Muhammad is the messenger of God, Ali is the friend of God), affirming the Twelver Shi'a confession of faith that was a hallmark of Safavid dynastic coinage. The inscription fills the entire flan with overlapping strokes, leaving minimal open field. The irregular planchet and variable strike depth are typical of hand-hammered gold issues of this period. No border or decorative elements are present, with the calligraphy itself serving as the sole design element. |
|---|---|
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| Mintage | ND (1524-1576) - - 956 (1549) - - 965 (1558) - - |
| Additional information |
Tahmasp I ruled for over fifty years — the longest reign of any Safavid shah — yet his monetary administration was anything but static. The shift of the imperial capital from Tabriz to Qazwin in 1555, following relentless Ottoman pressure on the northwestern frontier, directly influenced mint output and coin typology during the latter half of his reign. The "Fourth Gold Standard" designation reflects a documented recalibration of the mithqal-based weight system, one of several adjustments Tahmasp made as war expenditure and Silk Road trade revenues fluctuated across his reign.
At 1.15 g, this quarter mithqal sits at the practical lower boundary of Safavid gold coinage intended for actual commercial use.