Afsharid. Nadir Shah (1736-1747). AR Abbasi. Tabriz. AH 1151

Afsharid. Nadir Shah (1736-1747). AR Abbasi. (5.39g/ 25mm). Tabriz. AH 1151. Album 2749.2. About extremely fine. Rare.

Following the fall of the Sasanian Empire in the 7th century, the name “Iran” gradually disappeared from coinage, replaced by Islamic religious and caliphal inscriptions for nearly a millennium. During this long period, although the concept of Iran survived culturally and geographically, it was rarely expressed explicitly in official monetary issues.

With the rise of Nader Shah Afshar (r. 1736–1747), a decisive shift occurred. As a military leader who reunified much of the Persian realm after the decline of the Safavids, Nader sought to revive a strong, centralized identity. His coinage reflects this ambition. On several issues, he adopts the title:

“Nader Iran Zamin” — “Nader of the land of Iran”

This phrase represents one of the earliest clear reappearances of the name “Iran” on coinage since the Sasanian period. Its use is widely interpreted as a deliberate political statement, emphasizing territorial unity and sovereignty rather than purely religious authority.

These coins therefore stand at an important historical crossroads: they are not only monetary instruments but also expressions of a renewed Iranian identity in the early modern period, bridging the gap between ancient imperial tradition and later national consciousness.