Nadir Shah
Shah of Iran, 1736 - 1747 AD


Silver 4 Shahi, 24 mm, 5.3 grams.
Obverse shows a chronogram form of Nadir Shah's accession date.
Meshed mint, dated 1149 AH = 1736-7 AD


Silver Rupee (10 Shahi), 25 mm, 11.5 grams.
Inscriptions both sides.
Meshed mint, dated 1152 AH = 1739-40 AD

One of the great Asian conquerors, Nadir Shah was the son of a chieftain of the Afshar, a Turkish tribe.   A magnificent cavalry leader, he expelled the Afghan rulers and in 1732 placed Abbas III, the infant son of the last Safavid, on the throne with himself as regent.

In 1736, Nadir assumed the imperial title. He warred with virtually all neighboring states. In the west he defeated the Ottoman Turks and took Baghdad in 1733; in the north he repulsed Russia in the Caucasus; in the east he achieved spectacular success by invading India. He occupied Delhi and returned to Iran with marvelous booty that included the Koh-i-noor diamond and the Peacock Throne.

Nadir Shah was harsh, unskilled administrator who tolerated no opposition.  Ultimately, disgruntled religious leaders and army officers succeeded in assassinating him in 1747.

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