Rasht, the principal city of Gilan province on the Caspian littoral, operated a mint that functioned with considerable autonomy during the early Qajar period. Anonymous copper issues like this shahi circulated locally and rarely traveled far — Gilan's damp climate and distinct commercial networks kept provincial coinage largely contained within the region. Most survivors show heavy corrosion for exactly that reason.
Rasht, the principal city of Gilan province on the Caspian littoral, operated a mint that functioned with considerable autonomy during the early Qajar period. Anonymous copper issues like this shahi circulated locally and rarely traveled far — Gilan's damp climate and distinct commercial networks kept provincial coinage largely contained within the region. Most survivors show heavy corrosion for exactly that reason.