Unidentified Arab Coin Dated AH 1331 (1912 Ad) 2 Birds

@acc, first welcome to CCF. Second, while I agree with @class'response above, I do note that we see these with some frequency so if you search for threads withe the keywords IRAN WEDDING TOKEN, you'll see some to compare with yours. Interestingly, one theory is that in general they are for weddings, but ones with a date are perhaps more often used for the new year. See the linked thread below for a longer discussion:


http://goccf.com/t/297944

To clarify: "1331" is the date in the Iranian solar calendar, not the regular Islamic lunar calendar. SH 1331 = AD 1952.

The imagery on the token is primarily Iranian wedding imagery; the ornate candlesticks flanking a mirror are centrepieces of the Iranian wedding table. But they also use a mirror and candles (though with usually less elaborate candlesticks) on the New Years table, too. So the tokens work well for both. Likewise, the bird symbolism works well for both: the courting birds can symbolize the courting couple, and Persian New Year happens in Spring when songbirds are about.

At weddings, the tokens are liberally scattered about the happy couple at the end of the ceremony (not unlike rice or confetti at Western weddings). At New Years, they are placed in a bowl to decorate the ceremonial table, to symbolize prosperity for the coming year.