Economic Strength of Astarabad during the reign of Naser al-din Shah Qajar (1848-1896): Elemental Analysis of Naseri Silver Qirans Multiplied in Astarabad using PIXE Method

Authors

1 Assistant professor, Department of Archeology, University of Birjand, Birjand, I. R. Iran

2 Assistant professor Department of Archeology, University of Birjand, Birjand, I. R. Iran

3 Assistant professor, Department of Archeology, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, I. R. Iran

4 Ph.D. Student of Archeology, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, I. R. Iran

Abstract

Purpose: During the reign of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, there were multiple versions of silver Qirans. A version was struck in the northeast region of Astarabad. Although all versions nominally followed that of Tehran, as each city had an autonomous military system, in practice coins of most regions were struck with different amounts of silver purity. This article tends to gauge the economic power of Astarabad and compared it with other regions including Mashhad, Tabriz, Isfahan, and Shiraz, by measuring the silver purity of its coins.
Method and Research Design: Elemental analysis of coins of this period using the PIXE method was the main basis of this research and 22 coins on 22 different dates were elementally analyzed.
Finding and Conclusion: Changes in the purity of silver on average in periods between 1849-1857 AH. 90.10%, 1860-1871 AH. 86.56%, 1873-1876 AH. 84.20%. Overall, throughout the three periods, it multiplied by 87.42%. This explains the position of Astarabad coins to those of Mashhad (84%), Tabriz (82%), Tehran (90%), Isfahan (84%), And Shiraz (90%). This research showed how to change the grade of coins with copper and iron metals, and the type of silver mines used, namely Cerussite mines.

Highlights

 

Keywords

Main Subjects

Full Text

 

 

References

English Translation of References
Books
Abbott, Keith Edward. (1983). Cities & trade: Consul Abbott on the economy and society of Iran 1847-1866. Edited by Abbas Amanat. London: Ithaca.
Aghili, Abdollah. (1377/1998). “Dār-oz-zarb-hā-ye Irān dar dowre-ye eslāmi” (Mints of Iran in the Islamic period). Tehran: Bonyād-e Mowqufāt-e Doktor Mahmud Afšār (Foundation of Doctor Mahmoud Afshar Yazdi’s Endowments). [Persian]
Album, Stephen. (2011). Checklist of Islamic coins (3rd ed.). Santa Rosa: Stephen Album Rare Coins.
Bradley Birt, E. B. (1909). Persia: Through Persia from the Gulf to the Caspian. New York: E. P. Dutton and Co.
Farahbakhsh, Houshang. (1354/1975). “Rāhnamā-ye sekke-hā-ye zarbi (čakkoši-ye) Irān…” (Standard catalogue of Iranian mint (hammered) coins…). Tehran: Farahbaxš. [Persian]
Heritage Auctions. (6-7 Jan 2013). Ancient & world coins signature action. Dallas: Heritage Auctions.
Landor, Arnold Henry Savage. (1902). Across coveted lands (vol. 1). London: Charles Scribners Son.
Matthee, Rudolph, Floor, Willem, & Clawson, Patrick. (1396/2017). “Tārix-e puli-ye Irān: Az Safavieh tā Qājārieh” (The monetary history of Iran: From the Safavids to the Qajars). Translated by Javad Abbasi. Tehran: Nāmak. [Persian]
Michael, Thomas. (2015). Standard catalog of world coins 1801-1900 (8th ed.). Iola: Krause Publications.
Rabino di Borgomale, Hyacinth Louis. (1945). Coins, medals, and seals of the Shahs of Iran, 1500-1941. Hertford: Stephan Austin and Sons Ltd.
Articles
Beck, L; Bosonnet, S; Réveillon, S; Eliot, D; Pilon, F. (2004). “Silver surface enrichment of silver–copper alloys: A limitation for the analysis of ancient silver coins by surface techniques”. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. 226(1-2), pp. 153-162.
Ben Abdelouahed, H.; Gharbi, F.; Roumié, M.; Baccouche, S.; Ben Romdhane, K.; Nsouli, B.; & Trabelsi, A. (2010). “PIXE analysis of medieval silver coins”. Materials Characterization. vol. 61(1), pp. 59-64.
Ben Abdelouahed, H; Incerti, S; Mantero, A. (2009). “New Geant4 cross section models for PIXE simulation”. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. 267(1), pp. 37-44.
Denker, Andrea; Bohne, W.; Campbell, J. L.; Heide, P.; Hopman, T.; Maxwell, J. A.; Opitz‐Coutureau, J.; Rauschenberg, J.; Röhrich, J.; & Strub, E. (2005). “High‐energy PIXE using very energetic protons: Quantitative analysis and cross‐sections”. X-Ray Spectrometry. 34(4), pp. 376-380.
Flament, Christophe; & Marchetti, Patrick. (2004). “Analysis of ancient silver coins”. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. 226(1-2), pp. 179-184.
Gaschen, A. A-M.; Döbeli, M.; Markwitz, A.; Barry, B.; Ulrich-Bochsler, S.; & Krähenbühl, U. (2008). “Restrictions on Fluorine depth profiling for exposure age dating in archaeological bones”. Journal of Archaeological Science. 35(3), pp. 535-552.
Hughes, M. J.; & Hall, J. A. (1979). “X-Ray fluorescence analysis of late Roman and Sassanian silver plate”. Journal of Archaeological Science. 6(4), pp. 321-344.
Ishii, K.; & Morita, S. (1988). “Theoretical estimation of PIXE detection limits”. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. 34(2), pp. 209-216.
Johansson, Sven. A. E.; & Johansson, Thomas. B. (1976). “Analytical application of Particle Induced X-Ray Emission”. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. 137(3), pp. 473-516.
Khademi Nadoushan, Farhang; Mohaghegh, Maryam; Hozhabri Nobari, Alireza; & Masjedi Khak, Parastou. (1394/2015). “Barresi-ye owzā’-e siāsi-eqtesādi-ye hokumat-e Aškāniān dar sāl-hā-ye 2-57 B. C. (Dowrān-e pādešvhi-ye Orod-e Dovvom va Farhād-e čahārom): Bar asās-e tarkibāt-e šimiyāyi-ye sekke-hā-ye noqreh bā raveš-e āzmāyešgāhi-ye PIKSI” (Studyin the politico-economic condition of Parthians between the 57-2 B.C, the kingdom of 2nd Orod and 4th Farhad, based on the analysis of chemical compounds of silver coins using PIXE method). Pažuheš-hā-ye Bāstān-šenāsi-ye Irān (Iranian Scientific Archeological Association), 5(8), pp. 53-66. [Persian]
Kianzadegan, Sousan; Rajaei, Seyyed Jalal; Majedi Khak, Parastou; & Sa’adatmehr, Mohammad Amin. (1398/2019). “Tajzie-ye ‘onsori-ye sekke-hā-ye Piruz-e Sāsāni be raveš-e PIKSI; Motāle’e-ye moredi: Sekke-hā-ye ganjne-ye Piruzgat-e kašf-šode az rustā-ye Tis-e Čābahār” (Elemental analysis of Piruz, the Sassanid King, coins by using PIXE technique, a case study of Piruzgat treasure coins, discovered in Tis village, Chabahar). Pažuheš-hā-ye Bāstān-šenāsi-ye Irān (Iranian Scientific Archeological Association), 9(22), pp. 181-196. [Persian]
Lame’ei Rashti, Mohammad. (1382/2003). “Naqš-e tahlil-e ‘onsori dar bāstān-sanji: Tajzie-ye āzmāyešgāh-e vāndogrāf” (The role of elemental analysis in archeology: The analysis of lab Van de Graaff). In Masoud Azarnoush (Ed.), “Majmu’e maqālāt-e noxostin hamāyeš-e bāstān-sanji dar Irān: Naqš-e ‘olum-e pāyeh dar bāstān-šenāsi” (Summary of articles the first symposium of archaeometry in Iran: The role of the sciences in archaeology). Tehran: Sāzmān-e Mirās-e Farhangi-ye Kešvar (Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicraft Organization). [Persian]
Linke, Robert; Schreiner, Manfred; & Demortier, Guy. (2004). “The application of Photo, Electron and Proton Induced X-Ray analysis for the identification and characterization of medieval silver coins”. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 226(1), pp. 172-178.
Maxwell, J. A.; Teesdale, W. J.; & Campbell, J. L. (1995). “The Guelph PIXE software package II”. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 95(3), pp. 407-421.
Meyers, P. (2003). “Production, distribution, and control of silver: Information provided by elemental composition of ancient silver objects”. Patterns and Process: A Festschrift in Honor of Dr. Edward V. Sayre. Suitland: Smithsonian Center for Materials Research and Education. pp. 271–288.
 
Oliayi, Parvin; Afarideh, Hossein; & Agha Aligol, Davoud. (1394/2015). “Motāle’e-ye āmāri-ye sekke-hā-ye noqre-ye Haxāmaneši, Aškāni va Sāsāni bā estefāde az ānāliz-e ‘onsori be raveš-e piksi” (Statistical study of the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sassanid silver coins using elemental analysis by PIXE technique). Motāle’āt-e Bāstān-šenāsi (Journal of Archaeological Studies), 7(1), pp. 17-28. [Persian]
Rabino, Joseph. (1892). “Banking in Persia: Its basis, history, and prospects”. Journal of the Institute of Bankers, no.13, pp. 1-56.
Roumié, M.; Nsouli, B.; Atalla, C.; & Waksman, S. Y. (2005). “Application of PIXE using Al Funny Filter for cluster analysis of Byzantine Amphorae from Beirut”. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 227(4), pp. 584-590.
Roumié, Mohamad; Reynolds, Paul; Atallah, Carol; Bakraji, Elias; Zahraman, Khaled; & Nsoulia, Bilal. (2006). “Provenance study of excavated pottery from Beirut using PIXE cluster analysis”. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. 249(1-2), pp. 612-615.
Shariff, Asad; Bülow, Karin; Elfman, Mikael; Kristiansson, Per; Malmqvist, Klas G; & Pallon, Jan. (2002). “Calibration of a new chamber using GUPIX software package for PIXE analysis”. Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. 189(1-4), pp. 131-137.
Dissertations
Esmaeelzade Kivi, Sina. (1392/2013). “Motāle’e-ye ašyā-ye makšufeh az bāft-e tārixi-ye Ardebil va mohavvate-ye tārixi-ye majmu’e-ye Šeix Safi-od-Din-e Ardebili bā raves-e gosil-e partov-e Iks bā tābeš-e poroton (PIKSI)” (Study of the discovered objects from the historical context of Ardabil and the historical site of the Sheikh Safi-ud-Din Ardabil complex by proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique). [Unpublished Master’s thesis]. Ardebil: Dāneškade-ye ‘Olum (Faculty of Sciences), Dānešgāh-e Mohaqqeq-e Ardebili (University of Mohaghegh Ardabili). [Persian]
Kianzadegan, Sousan. (1397/2018). “Tahlil-e qodrat-e eqtesādi dar dowre-ye Piruz-e Sāsāni be komak-e āzmāyeš-e PIKSI: Motāle’e-ye moredi-ye sekke-hā-ye makšufe az Piruzgat (Čābahār, Balučestān-e Irān)” (An analysis of economic power in Pirouz Sassani period using PIXE experiment: A case study of coins discovered from Piroozgat (Chabahar, Baluchistan, Iran)). [Unpublished Master’s thesis]. Mašhad: Dāneškade-ye Adabiāt va ‘Olum-e Ensāni (Faculty of Literature and Humanities), Dānešgāh-e Ferdowsi-ye Mašhad (Ferdowsi University Mashhad). [Persian]
 
 
 

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 24 May 2020
  • Revise Date: 27 May 2020
  • Accept Date: 04 April 2021

Share

How to cite

Statistics