Obverse:
The obverse features a left-facing portrait of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, known as “Aryamehr” (Light of the Aryans), the last monarch before the Islamic Revolution of 1979. His royal title and name appear in Persian script, reflecting the official language and state identity of Pahlavi Iran.

Reverse:
The reverse displays the national emblem of Iran under the Pahlavi dynasty — a lion holding a saber beneath a radiant sun and crown — with the denomination “۱۰ ریال” (10 Rials) inscribed in Persian numerals. Islamic solar calendar date 1353 (1974) is typically shown on the obverse or reverse, depending on design placement.

Specifications:

• Country: Iran

• Period: Pahlavi Era (1941–1979)

• Denomination: 10 Rials

• Year: 1353 (1974)

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

• Weight: ~7.0 g

• Diameter: ~28 mm

• Edge: Reeded

• Shape: Round

• Alignment: Medal

Historical Insight:
The 1974 10 Rials coin belongs to the late Pahlavi period when Iran was undergoing rapid modernization under the Shah’s “White Revolution.” The use of the lion and sun emblem harkens back to centuries of Persian symbolism and was used widely on coins and state emblems until the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Collecting Note:
As a standard circulation issue, the 1353 (1974) 10 Rials is relatively common and modestly valued. However, it represents an important chapter in Iranian numismatic history — issued shortly before the upheavals that led to the end of the Pahlavi dynasty. It is an attractive piece for collectors interested in Middle Eastern coinage, pre-revolutionary Iran, and modern historical transitions. Preserved examples often retain clear detail due to the durable copper-nickel composition.