From Persia to the Caucasus: Evolution of the Abbasi

Illustrated Specimen Details: Abbasi of Safavid Persia

Example Specimen: 1 Abbasi, AH 1132 (1720) — Safavid Persia (Iran)

Historical Context: This silver coin belongs to the era of Safavid Persia, one of the most powerful Iranian empires established after the 7th-century Muslim conquest. Ruling from 1501 to 1736, the Safavid dynasty laid the foundations of modern Iranian history and established Twelver Shia Islam as the official state religion. This specific piece was minted in AH 1132 (Islamic Hijri calendar), which corresponds to 1720 in the Gregorian calendar.

Ruler and Minting: The coin was struck during the reign of Soltan Hoseyn, who ruled from 1694 to 1722. His tenure was marked by extreme superstition, a wasteful lifestyle, and political decline, which ultimately contributed to the fall of the dynasty. The Persian inscription on the coin reads بنده شاه ولایت حسین ضرب اصفهان, which translates to the name of the ruler and confirms it as a product of the Isfahan Mint.

Religious Inscriptions: In alignment with Shia numismatic traditions, the central part of the design contains the Shahada: لا اله الا الله محمد رسول الله علی ولی الله ("There is no deity but God; Muhammad is the messenger of God; Ali is the vicegerent of God"). The surrounding script honors the 12 Shia Imams, listing their names in elegant calligraphic style: Ali, Hassan, Hossein, Ali, Mohammad, Jafar, Musa, Ali, Mohammad, Ali, Hassan, and Mohammad.

1. PERSIA (IRAN during 17th-19th centuries): abbasi = 4 shahi
2. EMIRATE OF AFGHANISTAN (19th-20th centuries): abbasi = one-third of a rupee
3. CENTRAL ASIA AND CAUCASIA (Khanates including Derbent, Ganja, Karabakh, Nakhjevan, Quba, Sheki, Shirvan...), 18th-19th centuries: abbasi

ABBASI as a coin name. The abbasi is a historical silver and gold denomination of Persia, first introduced around 1620 under Shah Abbas I the Great (1571-1629). It was known as a high-quality, large silver piece that remained in production until the early 20th century, heavily circulating across modern-day Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and parts of Eastern Africa.

The Role of the Abbasi in Middle Eastern Trade

Following its introduction in the early 17th century, the abbasi quickly became the standard silver coin for commerce, taxation, and large-scale trade across Persia and neighboring regions. Its long-lasting public acceptance allowed the denomination to survive multiple dynastic transitions.

Evolution Across Dynasties

While originally created to standardize the monetary system of the Safavid Empire, the production of the abbasi continued under successive regimes, including the Afsharid dynasty, the Zand dynasty, and early Qajar Iran. Each abbasi coin was equal to 4 shahi, serving as the backbone of urban markets and regional trade networks.

Because of its reliability, numerous regional mints — such as Tabriz, Mashhad, Hamadan, Rasht, Tiflis, and Erivan—struck their own versions. Though its weight and overall silver content gradually declined over two centuries, the name and basic design principles remained remarkably consistent.

Design and Legacy

In strict adherence to Islamic numismatic principles, the classic imperial abbasi features no human portraits. Instead, the design rely entirely on elegant Persian calligraphy, showcasing the names and titles of the ruling Shah, religious declarations, and mint data.

The influence of this currency extended far beyond Persian borders, inspiring regional imitations such as the Georgian abazi. By the late 19th century, systemic monetary reforms and the transition to modern machinery eventually led to the retirement of this iconic silver denomination. Today, abbasis are highly prized historical artifacts that offer deep insights into the economic history of the Middle East.