Owner Comments:
Coin Description: Initial issue by Imperial Iranian Mint in Tehran Iran, labeled with KM # 1180 by the Standard World Catalog of World Coins. The 20 Rials coin was created to relieve the demand placed on 20 Rials notes currently being used which often needed to be reprinted due to the accelerated use from improving economic conditions in Iran during the late 1960s. The obverse design has the bust of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, date of issue, and the legend, "Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, Aryamehr, Shahanshah Iran." The reverse design contains the Imperial Lion and Sun emblem (official emblem of the Empire of Iran) within a wreath with a crown symbolizing the monarch above the emblem. The denomination is written below the emblem. The issue is composed of copper-nickel with a diameter of 31 mm and a weight of 8.92 gms. There were three issues for this type:
1) SH1350 (1971) - Mintage: 2,349,000
2) SH1351 (1972) - Mintage: 11,416,000
3) SH1352 (1973) - Mintage: 7,172,000 (included with SH1352 issues under type KM# 1181)
Owner's Comments: This is particular coin is one of the original coins given to me as a child by my father, and sparked my interest in numismatics. It holds a special place within my certified collection. The coin seems to have been taken out of circulation directly from the financial institution it was acquired from. The eye appeal of the coin is great for Iranian copper-nickel coins of the era, with only a slight discoloration on the reverse, trans-versing the diameter. This issue is the most common of the three issues of this type, but it is currently the top certified coin from either NGC or PCGS (out of two), with the previous year's issue having around 5 certified examples.
References:
1) Clarke, R., & Mohabat-Ayin, A. (1974). Modern Coinage of Iran. Numismatics International.
2) Michael, T. (2016). 2017 Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 44th Edition. Krause Publications