Another payzeh [royal order] from the Ilkhanid Soltan Abu Saeid's times

Since a silver payzeh belonging to Iran’s National Museum was introduced in an article by Abdollah Quchani, no other example has been identified in Iran. Another example of payzeh from the Ilkhanid era, kept at the Museum of the Bonyad-e Mostaz’afan (The Foundation of the Oppressed), bears certain resemblances with and differences from that in the National Museum. Given the fact that in this kind of cases, comparative studies can be effective in the correct reading of inscriptions, manner of making and using the state documents of the Mughal times, in the present study attempts have been made to ascertain the date, make-up, and application of the payzeh in question by reading the inscription on it and making use of relevant texts. Based on the descriptions made by Rashid al-Din Fazlollah Hamadani about payzehs, this question is addressed that of what significance and value were these documents in the running of the state apparatus at the time. The most important questions in this research are as follows: to what period does the payzeh at the Bonyad-e Mostaz’afan Museum belong? What do the text and designs on it point out? What was its use and status in terms of its importance and value in the government set-up? Finally, can it be utilized in better understanding other payzehs?