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Falus - Safavid dynasty Shiraz mint
| Issuer | Safavid Dynasty |
|---|---|
| Year | |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | 22 mm |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Lion Standing Right (Zodiac symbol for Leo?) |
| Reverse description | The reverse carries a two-line Arabic inscription divided by a horizontal line across the centre of the flan, typical of Safavid provincial falus layout. The upper portion bears the denomination فلوس (Falus) and the lower portion reads ضرب شیراز (struck at Shiraz), identifying the mint of issue. The calligraphy is executed in a bold, somewhat informal naskh style consistent with copper coinage of the period. The field shows pronounced die wear and surface porosity characteristic of hammered copper issues. No regnal year appears on this type, placing it in the undated (ND) category common for Safavid base-metal coinage. |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
The Safavid copper falus occupies an awkward position in the dynasty's monetary hierarchy — officially beneath notice, practically indispensable. Silver coinage dominated long-distance trade and tax collection, but the falus handled the street-level economy that silver couldn't efficiently reach. Shiraz, as a major commercial hub on the routes connecting the Persian Gulf ports to the interior, sustained heavy copper circulation well into the late Safavid period.
Attribution of these pieces to specific reigns is complicated by inconsistent mint dating practices and the low administrative priority given to copper production.