100 rials 1974
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8 salesAbout This Note
This is an exceptional uncirculated example of the 1974 Iranian 100 Rials note (Pick 102a), displaying the iconic portrait of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in full military dress uniform on the obverse. The reverse features an exquisitely engraved rendering of the Pahlavi Museum in Tehran with its distinctive domed architecture. Both sides exhibit pristine condition with sharp, crisp printing and no visible wear, folds, or stains, representing a premium specimen of this historically significant banknote from the final years of the Pahlavi dynasty.
Common. The 100 Rials 1974 (Pick 102a) is a standard regular-issue note from Bank Markazi Iran with no known significant print run restrictions or recalls. eBay market data shows consistent sales activity across multiple condition grades from 2009 to 2021, with UNC examples typically realizing $3-7, occasionally reaching higher amounts at competitive auctions. The 2019 catalog valuation of $15 for UNC reflects typical pricing for common mid-20th-century Middle Eastern banknotes in premium condition.
Issued by Bank Markazi Iran in 1974, this note represents the final decade of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's reign before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The prominent military portraiture reflects the Shah's emphasis on modernization and Western-aligned military strength, while the Pahlavi Museum depicted on the reverse symbolized the regime's cultural nationalism and preservation of Persian heritage. These notes circulated during a period of significant economic growth driven by oil revenues, before the political upheaval that would follow.
The obverse features a commanding three-quarter portrait of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi positioned at right, depicted in full military dress uniform with shoulder insignia and chest medals, conveying authority and modernization. Intricate Persian carpet patterns and floral elements (narcissus flowers) ornament the left side, while fine geometric and floral border designs in maroon and purple tones frame the entire composition. The reverse displays the Pahlavi Museum (Muzeh-ye Pahlavi) in Tehran, rendered in classical engraved style with a prominent dome and symmetrical arched windows across two stories, flanked by stylized foliage. Both sides employ elaborate decorative borders with fine-line work characteristic of the period's security printing standards.
Front: 'بانک مرکزی ایران' (Bank Markazi Iran / Central Bank of Iran), 'صد ریال' (One Hundred Rials), '100' (Arabic numerals). Back: 'BANK MARKAZI IRAN' (English text), 'RIALS' (English text), '100' (Arabic numerals repeated). The note features both Persian script on the obverse and English transliteration on the reverse, reflecting Iran's international banking practices during the 1970s.
Intaglio engraving with multicolor offset printing. The note was produced by TDLR (Tehrān Dar-e-Sepāsī, the Iranian Security Printing House), utilizing fine line engraving for the portrait and architectural elements combined with colored underprinting in maroon, orange, and green tones. Security features include a yellow security thread, intricate background geometric patterns, and fine-line work throughout designed to prevent counterfeiting.
This note is identified as Pick 102a specifically. The 1974 dated issue was produced from 1974-1979 without date changes on the note itself (ND designation in some references). No overprints, signature varieties, or dated variants are known to be significant for this Pick number. The yellow security thread and TDLR printer mark are standard features of the 102a variety.
