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2 1/2 Azadi Bullion Coinage
| Issuer | Bank Melli Iran |
|---|---|
| Year | 1979 |
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| Orientation | Coin alignment ↑↓ |
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| Obverse description | Central field features a hexagonal geometric frame enclosing six repetitions of the name 'Ali' (علی), honoring the first Imam of Shia Islam, arranged symmetrically within the device. The issuing authority legend 'بانک ملّی ایران' (Bank Melli Iran) appears as an inscription below the central hexagonal motif. The design is executed in a precise, formal style consistent with Islamic calligraphic tradition. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Arabic |
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| Additional information |
The Azadi ("freedom") series was introduced by the newly established Islamic Republic in 1979 as a direct replacement for the Pahlavi coinage, which carried the portrait of the deposed Shah. Bank Melli Iran issued these bullion pieces in fractional denominations almost immediately after the revolution — partly as a nationalist monetary gesture, partly to absorb the gold-hoarding that spiked during the chaos of regime change.
The 2½ Azadi is the heaviest of the standard fractional issues. Iranian gold bullion coins of this period are frequently encountered with minor surface marks consistent with unsophisticated private storage — a reflection of how many left banking channels entirely.