What it means
سکه (sekke) comes from the Arabic سِكَّة (sikka), meaning the die or stamp used to mint coins. In Persian the word first meant any metal coin, which is still its literal meaning. In modern Iranian speech, however, سکه almost always refers to gold coins, specifically the standardized Bahar Azadi gold coins issued by the Central Bank of Iran. These are a major savings vehicle and investment instrument, traded daily like a commodity. A small, everyday metal coin is more often called پول خُرد (pul-e khord) or سکهی ریال (sekke-ye riâl) to distinguish it from the gold variety.
How to use it
- قیمت سکه امروز چنده؟ (qeymat-e sekke emruz chande?) “What is the price of gold coins today?”
- مادرم چند تا سکه داره که نگه میداره. (mâdaram chand tâ sekke dâre ke negah midâre.) “My mother has a few gold coins she keeps as savings.”
- سکه انداختن تو فواره قدیمیه. (sekke andâkhtan tu favâre qadimiye.) “Throwing a coin in a fountain is an old tradition.”
- رو سکه شیر اومد یا خط؟ (ru sekke shir umad yâ khat?) “Did the coin land heads or tails?”
Cultural note
Gold coins (سکه) function as one of the most trusted stores of value in Iran, especially during periods of high inflation or currency instability. Iranian families often give سکه as wedding gifts, and the bride’s dowry (mahr) is frequently denominated in a fixed number of Bahar Azadi coins. Because their value is pegged to the international gold price rather than the rial, سکه prices are watched as carefully as exchange rates. Jewelry bazaars in every major Iranian city have entire sections dedicated to buying and selling them.