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Auction: 24038 - The Dr. Martin M Mortazavi Collection of Persian Banknotes
Lot: 77

(x) Bank Melli, Iran, 1000 Rials = 10 Pahlavi, ND (1937) / AH1316, serial number A/1 090161,
rare green seal overprinted on back.

This 1937 French Back Issues series features a three-quarters portrait of Reza Shah in military uniform, without the Pahlavi hat. In this (Latin) series, the bank's name is displayed in French on the back, and the serial numbers are marked with Western prefix letters and numerals, in this case A/1 090161. Despite the year 1937 (SH1316) being printed on the front, the back of the note also bears a hand-stamped seal in green ink, which, though faint, indicates the year 1316 as well. Central to all the date stamps is an image from a stone relief at Persepolis, depicting Darius the Great slaying the Ahriman monster. This depiction represents Darius' triumph over evil forces, a prominent theme in Persian art and history. These date stamps were applied when the notes were issued, with the date and design of the stamp differentiating the various types. While the seal colours do not determine the note variants, collectors place great importance on a seal colour that matches the note's colour. This is particularly the case with this note, where the green seal harmonises with the green colour of the 1000 Rials note, the rarest and highest denomination in the series,

(Pick 38a, BNB 121), in PMG holder 10 Very Good, tape repairs, only 4 notes in higher grades on PMG Census

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£160

Starting price
£140