Persia (Iran) - Silver Bowl With Inset 5 Rial Coin, ca. 1949

Offered is an absolutely wonderful 70mm diameter silver bowl featuring ornate engraving around the outside, and an inset 5 Rial (.600AR, KM#1145) silver coin at base. This piece is marked with the ‘84’ Russian imitative hallmark which was ostensibly introduced into Iran by Armenian goldsmiths who immigrated to Tabriz around 1890. This mark indicates a silver purity range of .840 to .875AR, and was replaced by the ‘Lion’ mark system in 1967.

The wonderful craftsmanship of this piece may be attributed to the widely accepted theory that these small bowls were produced by silversmiths as a final test in their apprenticeship. As such, the full talent of the pupil was meant to be displayed - here seen in the incredibly ornate hand engraving along the outer edge of the piece. The coin is meant to be from the year of manufacture, here Jalali year 1328, Gregorian date 1949.

Of further note is that the 1328 5 Rial coin is actually a key-date in the series, with a mintage of only 282 000. All in all, a superb piece of Persian silver, and a sought one at that!