The Kian Collection

  • Outstanding Persian coins and medals in excellent conditions - this is what the famous "Kian Collection" stands for.

Proudly auctioned by SINCONA Swiss International Coin Auction AG in three parts in the years 2023 and 2024.

The Kian Collection - Hammered and Milled Masterpieces of Persian Numismatics

Outstanding Persian coins and medals in excellent conditions - this is what the famous "Kian Collection" stands for.


In terms of rarity and quality we are certainly dealing with the finest collection of its kind ever built. Assembled over fourty years, there is no doubt that the collector managed to eclipse all other institutional and private collections dedicated to this field of collecting.


We at SINCONA are honored and proud to offer this exceptional collection to the world of numismatists.

Please don't hesitate to contact us should you have any questions about the Kian Collection.

Highlights Part 1 - Milled Coins and Medals
(Auction 85, October 23, 2023, Zurich)

Fath 'Ali Shah, 1212-1250 AH (1797-1834). Pattern Kran or Medal in gold 1244 AH (1828 AD)

Lot 1001 - Fath 'Ali Shah, 1212-1250 AH (1797-1834). Pattern Kran or Medal in gold 1244 AH (1828 AD), 4.65 g. Dies by W. Bain. Struck in Great Britain. Coat of Arms. Rv. Persian script. Reeded edge. Excessively rare, only two known specimens in gold, this is the only example in private hands. NGC PF65 CAMEO.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 65'000

Nasir al-Din Shah, 1264-1313 AH (1848-1896). 25 Tomans 1307 AH (1889/1890 AD), Tehran Mint.

Lot 1005 - Nasir al-Din Shah, 1264-1313 AH (1848-1896). 25 Tomans 1307 AH (1889/1890 AD), Tehran Mint. 71.35 g. On his Return from Europe. KM 952. Fr. 64a. Extremely rare. NGC UNC Details. Obverse slightly polished. With original box.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 62'500

Nasir al-Din Shah, 1264-1313 AH (1848-1896). 25 Tomans 1313 AH (1895/1896 AD), Tehran Mint.

Lot 1006 - Nasir al-Din Shah, 1264-1313 AH (1848-1896). 25 Tomans 1313 AH (1895/1896 AD), Tehran Mint. 71.70 g. On the 50th Anniversary of his Reign. KM 953. Fr. -. Of the highest rarity, probably the only known specimen. NGC MS61.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 115'000

Nasir al-Din Shah, 1264-1313 AH (1848-1896). 10 Tomans 1311 AH (1893 AD), Tehran Mint.

Lot 1009 - Nasir al-Din Shah, 1264-1313 AH (1848-1896). 10 Tomans 1311 AH (1893 AD), Tehran Mint. 28.73 g. Bust type. KM 946. Fr. 59. Extremely rare, especially in this quality. Less than five pieces known. NGC MS61+.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 85'000

Nasir al-Din Shah, 1264-1313 AH (1848-1896). Bronze medal 1281 AH (1864 AD)

Lot 1091 - Nasir al-Din Shah, 1264-1313 AH (1848-1896). Bronze medal 1281 AH (1864 AD), 84.94 g. On the Opening of the Teheran Mint. Extremely rare, probably the only known specimen. NGC MS66 BN. Cabinet piece.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 26'000

Muzaffar al-Din Shah, 1313-1324 AH (1896-1907). Pattern 500 Dinars 1319 AH (1901/1902 AD), Tehran Mint.

Lot 1154 - Muzaffar al-Din Shah, 1313-1324 AH (1896-1907). Pattern 500 Dinars 1319 AH (1901/1902 AD), Tehran Mint. 2.55 g. Struck in gold. KM 977 var. Of the highest rarity, probably the only known specimen. NGC MS62.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 55'000

Muzaffar al-Din Shah, 1313-1324 AH (1896-1907). Gold medal 1318 AH (1900 AD)

Lot 1156 - Muzaffar al-Din Shah, 1313-1324 AH (1896-1907). Gold medal 1318 AH (1900 AD), 27.81 g. On his Visit to Paris. Dies by A. Patey. Medallic 10 Tomans. Extremely rare. NGC MS65. Cabinet piece. With original box.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 110'000

Muhammad Ali Shah, 1324-1327 AH (1907-1909). 5000 Dinars 1326 AH (1908/1909 AD), Tehran Mint.

Lot 1170 - Muhammad Ali Shah, 1324-1327 AH (1907-1909). 5000 Dinars 1326 AH (1908/1909 AD), Tehran Mint. 23.14 g. Lion & Sun type. KM -. Of the highest rarity, probably the only known specimen. NGC UNC Details. Reverse slightly cleaned.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 40'000

Muhammad Ali Shah, 1324-1327 AH (1907-1909). Pattern 2 Ashrafi 1326 AH (1908/1909 AD), Tehran Mint.

Lot 1178 - Muhammad Ali Shah, 1324-1327 AH (1907-1909). Pattern 2 Ashrafi 1326 AH (1908/1909 AD), Tehran Mint. 5.72 g. Proof. Bust type. Struck in gold. KM - (cf. Pn36). Of the highest rarity, probably the only known specimen of this type in gold. NGC PF62.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 55'000

Sultan Ahmad Shah, 1327-1344 AH (1909-1925). Pattern 2000 Dinars 1337 AH (1918/1919 AD), Tehran Mint.

Lot 1257 - Sultan Ahmad Shah, 1327-1344 AH (1909-1925). Pattern 2000 Dinars 1337 AH (1918/1919 AD), Tehran Mint. 14.14 g. Struck in gold. Coronation type, Jolous. On the 10th Anniversary of Reign. KM cf. Pn43. Of the highest rarity, probably two known specimens of this off-metal strike. NGC MS63. Magnificent condition.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 46'000

Highlights Part 2 - Hammered Coins and Medals (Auction 88, May 13, 2024, Zurich)

Fath-'Ali Shah, 1212-1250 AH (1797-1834). 5 Toman 1226 AH (1811), Tabriz Mint.

Lot 159 - Fath-'Ali Shah, 1212-1250 AH (1797-1834). 5 Toman 1226 AH (1811), Tabriz Mint. 26.85 g. Album T2683. KM 746. Äusserst seltenes Nominal / Extremely rare denomination. NGC MS62.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 48'000

Fath-'Ali Shah, 1212-1250 AH (1797-1834). 5 Toman 1227 AH (1812), Isfahan Mint.

Lot 161 - Fath-'Ali Shah, 1212-1250 AH (1797-1834). 5 Toman 1227 AH (1812), Isfahan Mint. 26.84 g. Album T2683. KM 746. Rabino pl. 42, no. 36 (1221 AH). Von grösster Seltenheit. Nur 3 Exemplare bekannt, wobei dieses Stück mit Abstand das besterhaltene ist / Of the highest rarity. Only 3 examples known with this being by far the best one. NGC AU55.

From the Abe Kossof Collection.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 40'000

Fath-'Ali Shah, 1212-1250 AH (1797-1834). 4 Riyal 1227 AH (1812), Tabriz Mint.

Lot 163 - Fath-'Ali Shah, 1212-1250 AH (1797-1834). 4 Riyal 1227 AH (1812), Tabriz Mint. 41.54 g. Album - (cf. A2886 for 2 Riyal). KM -. Von grösster Seltenheit. Einziges bekanntes Exemplar und unpubliziert. Unikat / Of the highest rarity. The only known specimen and unpublished. Unique. NGC AU55.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 55'000

Fath-'Ali Shah, 1212-1250 AH (1797-1834). 5 Toman 1232 AH (1817), Kermanshahan Mint.

Lot 165 - Fath-'Ali Shah, 1212-1250 AH (1797-1834). 5 Toman 1232 AH (1817), Kermanshahan Mint. 23.72 g. Album -. cf. KM 746 (only Tabriz and Tehran). Von grösster Seltenheit. Einziges bekanntes Exemplar. Unikat / Of the highest rarity. The only known specimen. Unique. NGC AU Details. Henkel- und Tragespuren / Mount removed, traces of wear.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 45'000

Abbas Mirza, 1203-1249 (1789-1833). Silver Medal of Valour c. 1813

Lot 186 - Abbas Mirza, 1203-1249 (1789-1833). Silver Medal of Valour c. 1813, 21.76 g. Prince Abbas Mirza-Medal. Intended to be worn. 36.9 mm. Rabino pl. 43, no 40. Von grösster Seltenheit. Nur 2 Exemplare bekannt / Of the highest rarity. Only 2 examples known. Fast vorzüglich / About extremely fine. Mit Originalhenkel / Original loop attached.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 9'500

Mohammad Shah, 1250-1264 AH (1834-1848). 5 Toman 1251 AH (1835), Isfahan Mint.

Lot 188 - Mohammad Shah, 1250-1264 AH (1834-1848). 5 Toman 1251 AH (1835), Isfahan Mint. 19.03 g. Struck on the occasion of his second coronation in 1251 AH. Album -. KM -. Rabino -. Von grösster Seltenheit. Einziges bekanntes Exemplar. Unpubliziert. Unikat / Of the highest rarity. The only known specimen. Unpublished. Unique. NGC XF Details. Henkelspur / Mount mark.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 50'000

Mohammad Shah, 1250-1264 AH (1834-1848). Gold Medal n. d.

Lot 195 - Mohammad Shah, 1250-1264 AH (1834-1848). Gold Medal n. d., 13.85 g. In the weight of 3 Toman. Rabino -. Von grösster Seltenheit. Einziges bekanntes Exemplar. Unpubliziert. Unikat / Of the highest rarity. The only known specimen. Unpublished. Unique. NGC AU Details. Mit Originalhenkel / Original loop attached.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 13'000

Naser al-Din Shah, 1264-1313 (1848-1896). 2 Toman 1271 AH (1855), Isfahan Mint.

Lot 203 - Naser al-Din Shah, 1264-1313 (1848-1896). 2 Toman 1271 AH (1855), Isfahan Mint. 6.89 g. Shah on the Peacock Throne. Album 2923A. KM -. Äusserst selten / Extremely rare. NGC AU Details. Henkelspur / Mount mark.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 110'000

Naser al-Din Shah, 1264-1313 (1848-1896). Toman 1271 AH (1855), Tehran Mint.

Lot 206 - Naser al-Din Shah, 1264-1313 (1848-1896). Toman 1271 AH (1855), Tehran Mint. 3.43 g. Type with facing bust. Album 2925 var. KM 858. Rabino 604. Äusserst seltener Typ / Extremely rare type. NGC MS62.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 7'000

Naser al-Din Shah, 1264-1313 (1848-1896). Toman 1274 AH (1858), Isfahan Mint.

Lot 211 - Naser al-Din Shah, 1264-1313 (1848-1896). Toman 1274 AH (1858), Isfahan Mint. 3.45 g. Shah on the Peacock Throne. Album 2925A. KM -. Von grösster Seltenheit. Nur 2 Exemplare bekannt / Of the highest rarity. Only 2 examples known. NGC MS63.


Price realized (not including buyer's premium): CHF 20'000

Highlights Part 3 (Fall Auctions 2024, Zurich)