Tahmasp I was the second Safavid Shah of Safavid dynasty. He ruled the Persia from 1524 to 1576 AD. He was the son and successor of Ismail I, the founder of the Safavid dynasty. Considered as the powerful Shah of Iran, Tahmasp enjoyed the longest reign of any member of the Safavid dynasty.

In 1524, he came under the control of the Qizilbash who formed the backbone of the Safavid Empire. Tahmasp is also known for the reception he gave to the fugitive Mughal Emperor Humayun as well as Suleiman the son Bayezid, which is depicted in a painting on the walls of the Safavid palace of Chehel Sutoon.

During the reign, he issued gold and silver coins in the denomination of Shahi, Ashrafi, and Mithqal. These coins were struck at Baghdad, Herat, Isfahan, Mashhad, Qazwin, Shiraz, Tabriz, Yazd, Qandhar, Qumm, Jafarabad, etc.

The above shown gold quarter Ashrafi of Tahmasp I was issued from Herat mint. The obverse of the coin depicts with Shia Kalima ‘La Ilaha Illallahu Muhammadur Rasulullah Ali Waliullah’. The reverse of the coin inscribed with the mint name ‘Zarb Harat’ in cartouche, name, and title of the king around.

Image Source: Heritage Auctions