Afghanistan SH1313 1/2 afghani
This specimen was lot 71501 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2023), where it sold for $168. The catalog description[1] noted, "AFGHANISTAN. 1/2 Afghani (50 Pul), SH 1313 (1934). Mohammad Zahir Shah. PCGS MS-64. Seldom offered at auction, this near-Gem example has a great deal of underlying luster beneath soft gray toning." This type was struck SH 1313-1316. The Solar Hegira calendar (SH) marks the date of Mohammed's flight as its beginning but otherwise uses a conventional solar calendar, thereby avoiding the inconveniences of the traditional AH calendar with its constantly shifting months.
Recorded mintage: unknown but common.
Specification: 4.75 g, 0.900 fine silver, 24 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-932.2.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, May 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Featuring the Richard Elliott Collection of Hooknecks, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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