The Half Azadi Gold Coin: Accessible Savings 🪙
While the full Azadi coin is the benchmark for gold investment in Iran, the Half Azadi coin plays an equally important role. It’s the go-to asset for millions of Iranians, making wealth preservation through gold accessible to a much broader segment of the population.
What is the Half Azadi Coin?
The Half Azadi (Nim Bahar Azadi) is an official gold coin minted by the Central Bank of Iran (CBI). It’s a key part of the official Azadi bullion series.
Here are its specifications:
- Weight: 4.0665 grams
- Purity: 90% gold (21.6 karats)
- Design: It features the same designs as the full Emami coin.
Its primary purpose is to provide a smaller, more affordable unit of gold for investment and transactions.
The “People’s Gold”: Why the Half Azadi is Popular 🎁
The Half Azadi’s popularity comes from its accessibility and deep cultural integration. It’s the preferred choice for:
- Smaller Savers: Many Iranians can’t afford to buy a full 8-gram Azadi coin in one go. The Half Azadi allows them to convert smaller amounts of their savings from the rapidly devaluing Iranian Rial (IRR) into the stability of gold.
- Gift-Giving: It is one of the most common and cherished gifts for major life events like Nowruz (Persian New Year), birthdays, and academic achievements.
- Dowries (Mehrieh): The Half Azadi coin is frequently specified in marriage contracts as part of a bride’s dowry, prized for its stable, long-term value.
Price and Value
The price of a Half Azadi coin follows the same formula as its larger counterpart: its value is based on its gold content, the free-market USD/IRR exchange rate, and a local supply-and-demand premium (the “bubble”).
However, there’s a key difference: the premium per gram on fractional coins like the Half Azadi is often higher than on the full Emami coin. This is due to strong retail demand and relatively higher production costs. While a full coin might be a more efficient investment for large sums, the Half Azadi’s utility in everyday life gives it a special value. You can track the underlying international gold price on sites like Kitco.
Conclusion: A Vital Tool for Financial Inclusion
The Half Azadi coin is much more than just half the gold of a full coin. It’s a critical financial tool that empowers a wider range of people to protect themselves from inflation. As of 2025, it remains a cornerstone of family savings and cultural traditions across Iran, proving that sometimes, smaller is more powerful.