Catalog
2 Tomans
| Issuer | Imperial Bank of Persia |
|---|---|
| Year | 1890-1923 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Obverse description | Printed in red, pink, and green, the obverse carries a portrait vignette of Shah Nasr ad-Din at the right and the Imperial Coat of Arms — the Lion and Sun motif — at the left. Persian script inscriptions identify the Imperial Bank of Iran and the denomination of Two Tomans, with a notation restricting payment to Tehran. Ornate guilloche underprinting fills the field, lending a decorative framework to the overall composition. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Printed entirely in green, the reverse is dominated by an intricate guilloche underprint with ornate scrollwork and rosette medallions filling the field. A central vignette carries the Imperial Coat of Arms — the Lion and Sun motif — set within a wreath, with the legend "THE IMPERIAL BANK OF PERSIA" arching across the top and "TWO TOMANS" in large serif lettering at the foot of the note. Serial numbers appear in each corner. |
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| Comments |
The Imperial Bank of Persia was a British-chartered institution, granted its concession by Nasser al-Din Shah in 1889 — which is why notes were printed in London from the outset and not in Tehran. The bank held exclusive rights to issue banknotes throughout Persia, a privilege that generated persistent resentment from Persian merchants and nationalist politicians who viewed the arrangement, correctly, as an instrument of British financial control.
Bradbury Wilkinson held the print contract for the entire run of this series, spanning over three decades. The long date range on P#2 reflects a printing strategy of reissuing from the same plates rather than redesigning — meaning early and late examples can look nearly identical despite being separated by years of circulation.