Bank Sepah Coin Museum
In 1963, Bank Sepah started to collect coins belonging to various ages of the
history of Iran and its neighboring areas, to establish one of the richest coin
museums in the Middle East. As a significant safeguard of Iranian cultural
heritage, the museum takes advantage of expertise of prominent numismatists
as well as careful and systematic surveys to enrich and maintain its priceless
treasure under highest standards.
As a member of International Council of Museums (ICOM), Bank Sepah Coin
Museum preserves a rare, distinguished and invaluable treasure. Included among
its fine collection, there are a number of the first-ever standardized made coins
from the Lydian period dating back to circa 643-630 B.C.
Reflecting a history of over 2500 years, the coins testify to many facts, revealing
the culture of Iranian multiethnic communities, from immemorial past to present,
while indicating their economic, social and cultural developments. They also
attest to peoples’ scripts, artistic trends, decorations and designs of costumes, as
well as to various formal and religious ceremonies of their time.
Taking into consideration the history of Iran, its ruling elites and its foreign
relations over the ages, the museum also features crucial treasures of Roman,
Byzantine, Greek, Cypriot, Lydian, Arab, Indian, Bactrian, and Mongolian
civilizations as well as those of their offshoots.
The museum also prides itself in holding priceless gifts, in addition to its main
treasure of coin, including a number of documents and decrees of national
significance.
www.banksepah.ir
Gold Coin, Lydia (7th- 6th Cent. B.C.)
Gold Coin, Achaemenid Empire of Iran (648-330 B.C.) Depicting King Daryoosh
(Darius) III
Silver Coin, Seleucid Empire (330-150 B.C.)
Obverse (left): King Seleucus
Reserve (right): Goddess of Victory with Greek Script
Silver Coin, Parthian Empire of Iran (250 B.C.-226 A.D.)
Obverse (left): King Ardavan (Artabanus) II
Reverse (right): King Arashk (Arsaces) Sitting; King Ardavan Nicknames in Greek Script
Silver Coin, Sassanid Empire of Iran (226-650); Both Sides Contain Middle Persian Script
Obverse (left): King Bahram II, the Queen and the Crown Prince
Reverse (right): Fireplace and Guards
www.banksepah.ir
Silver Coin, Umayyad Caliphate (661-750); Both Sides Contain Arabic Script
Silver Coin, Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258); Both Sides Contain Arabic Script
Gold Coin, Samanid Dynasty (875-999) After Which Tajik Currency (Somoni) is
Named; Both Sides Contain Arabic Script
Silver Coin, Ilkhanate Dynasty (1256-1353); Both Sides Contain Arabic Script
and Obverse Side Contains Uighur Script
Silver Coin, Safavid Empire of Iran (1501-1736); Both Sides Contain Arabic
Script
www.banksepah.ir