Currency of Iran: 20 Rials banknote 1953 Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi
Banknotes of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi era
Banknotes of the National Bank of Iran "Bank Melli Iran": Fourth & fifth issue - 1952 / 1954
Shah's portrait is seen in suit and tie, an appearance that never repeated again on the banknotes.
Iranian banknotes, Iranian paper money, Iranian bank notes, Iran banknotes, Iran paper money, Iran bank notes.
Obverse: Portrait of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi in civil suit in ornate frame at right. Persian floral designs. Reliefs of Immortal Persian warrior and Median warrior from Persepolis (Detail of a relief of the northern stairs of the Apadana Palace); Winged lion with ram's head and griffin's hind legs, enameled tile frieze from the palace of King Darius at Susa (The Great Royal Residence of Achaemenid Persia). Dark brown on orange and multicolor underprint.
Signatures: General director (right): Ali Asghar Naaser & Government's inspector (left): Nezaameddin Emaami.
Reverse: Frontal view of Aali Ghaapoo Palace in Isfahan (Ali Qapu Palace), Safavid era.
Printer: Harrison & Sons, London.
Dimensions: 136 x 69 mm.
Iran Banknotes
Banknotes of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi era
Banknotes of the National Bank of Iran "Bank Melli Iran": Fourth & fifth issue - 1952 / 1954
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Ali Qapu Palace
Ali Qapu is a grand palace in Isfahan, Iran. It is located on the western side of the Naqsh e Jahan Square, opposite to Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, and had been originally designed as a vast portal. It is forty-eight meters high and there are six floors, each accessible by a difficult spiral staircase. In the sixth floor, Music Hall, deep circular niches are found in the walls, having not only aesthetic value, but also acoustic.
The name Ali Qapu, from Arabic "Ālī" (meaning "imperial" or "great"), and Turkic "Qāpū" (meaning "gate"), was given to this place as it was right at the entrance to the Safavid palaces which stretched from the Naqsh e Jahan Square to the Chahar Baq Boulevard. The building, another wonderful Safavid edifice, was built by decree of Shah Abbas I in the early seventeenth century. It was here that the great monarch used to entertain noble visitors, and foreign ambassadors. Shah Abbas, here for the first time, celebrated the Nowruz (Iranian New Year) of 1006 AH / 1597 C.E.
Ali Qapu is rich in naturalistic wall paintings by Reza Abbasi, the court painter of Shah Abbas I, and his pupils. There are floral, animal, and bird motifs in his works. The highly ornamented doors and windows of the palace have almost all been pillaged at times of social anarchy. Only one window on the third floor has escaped the ravages of time. Ali Qapu was repaired and restored substantially during the reign of Shah Sultan Hussein, the last Safavid ruler, but fell into a dreadful state of dilapidation again during the short reign of invading Afghans. Under the reign of Nasir ol Din Shah e Qajar (1848–1896), the Safavid cornices and floral tiles above the portal were replaced by tiles bearing inscriptions.
Shah Abbas II was enthusiastic about the embellishment and perfection of Ali Qapu. His chief contribution was given to the magnificent hall, the constructures on the third floor. The 18 columns of the hall are covered with mirrors and its ceiling is decorated with great paintings.
The chancellery was stationed on the first floor. On the sixth, the royal reception and banquets were held. The largest rooms are found on this floor. The stucco decoration of the banquet hall abounds in motif of various vessels and cups. The sixth floor was popularly called the Music Hall. Here various ensembles performed music and sang songs.
From the upper galleries, the Safavid ruler watched Chowgan (polo), maneuvers and the horse-racing opposite the square of Naqsh e Jahan.