Crown Jewels and Political Confliction during the reign of Ahmad Shah Qajar (1909-1925)

 Data for this article is collected from archival documents and library resources.

Iranian government suffered growing economic and political problems during Ahmad Shah's reign. To overcome financial difficulties, some statesmen and parliamentarians suggested to put to mortgage or sell the collction of Crown Jewels. With the restoration of the constitutional rule after Mohamad Ali Shah was forced to resign, the collection was transferred from royal court to the ownership of the state. As the public was highly sensitive about the jewels, the case was discussed repeatedly in the parliament. Meanwhile, the opponents of Ahmad Shah and the Qajars, spread a rumor that the Shah wants to sell the jewels.  They used this as a pretext for disrediting Qajars and ending their rule. The attempt to sell or to mortgage the Crown Jewels was not successful, however, due to disagreements between the government and the parliament, as well as the pressure of public opinion which stressed on national and cultural value of the Crown Jewels.