
Our upcoming January 2024 New York International Sale will offer many numismatic rarities, with an exciting variety of types for all collectors. Among these highlights is a tremendous collection of Iranian rarities, forming the first portion of the Yasmine Collection. This collection, assembled over the course of several decades, contains many of the most elusive and rare Iranian coins, with a strong focus on Iranian gold coins and medals.
A stellar highlight of this collection is a gold medal honoring the Visit of Muzaffar al-Din Shah to Paris. Produced in AH 1318 (1900/01) by the Paris Mint, this phenomenal medal, graded MS-64 by NGC, was engraved by the fabled Henri-Auguste Patey. With only two located examples of the type, and featuring a pre-auction estimate of $140,000-$160,000, this example is among the loftiest of Iranian pieces one could ever hope to own. Pahlavi collectors should find many exciting examples, including an SH 1310 (1931) “Big Hat” Pahlavi of the extremely rare Small Lion Variant. Only one other example of this type has traded recently, making it one of the most difficult of coinage types to acquire from the reign of Reza Shah.
Collectors of pre-Pahlavi Iran might be interested in any number of pieces, including a lovely AH 1281 (1864/65) Copper 1000 Dinars Pattern graded by NGC as AU-58. This pattern was produced at an inflection point in Iranian history and is an early representation of machine struck Iranian coinage. A hand struck piece from Nasir al-Din Shah offers an earlier example of Iranian coinage, a simply phenomenal ½ Kran from AH 1273 (1856/57) graded AU-55. This example is the sole finest graded representative of this type, and offers quality and appeal that far exceeds that normally encountered in this style of coinage.
The first group of coins from the Yasmine Collection will be presented in the January New York International Numismatic Convention Auction, with future auctions featuring additional Iranian Rarities. Offering the chance to acquire seldom seen issues, collectors of Iranian coinage will not want to miss this collection.