Obverse:
The obverse typically features the legend in Persian including the shah’s full title محمدرضا شاه پهلوی آریامهر شاهنشاه ایران (“Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi Aryamehr, King of Kings of Iran”), with ۵ ریال (“5 Rials”) and the Solar Hijri date at the bottom corresponding to 1978.

Reverse:
The reverse shows a lion passant gardant holding a raised scimitar under a crown, a classic symbol of the Iranian monarchy during the Pahlavi era. Beneath this heraldic emblem is the denomination in Persian script پنج ریال (“Five Rials”).

Specifications:

• Country: Iran

• Period: Pahlavi Era (1941–1979), late coinage

• Denomination: 5 Rials

• Year: 1978 (Solar Hijri 1357 / 2537)

• Composition: Copper-nickel (75% copper, 25% nickel)

• Weight: ~4.6 g

• Diameter: ~24.9 mm

• Thickness: ~1.36 mm

• Shape: Round

• Edge: Reeded

• Alignment: Medal (0°)

Historical Insight:
This coin belongs to the late Pahlavi period, issued in the months before the dramatic political changes of 1979. The lion-and-sword motif harkens back to traditional Persian symbolism combined with imperial dignity, while the Persian inscriptions reflect national identity. It was one of the final standard circulating denominations before the revolutionary government reformed Iran’s monetary system.

Collecting Note:
The 1978 5 Rials is appealing to collectors of modern Middle Eastern coinage and those interested in transitional historical periods. Its pre-revolutionary context and recognizable royal symbolism make it a meaningful piece in collections focusing on Iranian history and political change before the Islamic