Algeria AH 1141 sultani
The first specimen was lot 33283 in Heritage sale 3064 (Chicago, April 2018), where it sold for $540. The catalog description[1] noted, "Ottoman Empire. Ahmed III (1703-1730) gold Sultani AH 1141 (1728/9) AU Details (Holed) PCGS, Jaza'ir Gharb mint (in Algeria). A very rare offering of Algeria, lightly toned with minor striking weakness, particularly around the hole, and displaying all of the soft golden color desirable for the type. Ex. Dr. Hans Wilski Collection." The second specimen was lot 31853 in Heritage sale 3076 (Long Beach, CA, September 2019), where it sold for $1,980. The catalog description[1] noted, "Ottoman Empire. Ahmed III gold Sultani AH 1141 (1728/9) AU53 NGC, Jazair Gharb mint (in Algeria), Only the second example of this extremely elusive Algerian type we have been able to locate recently coming to auction, noted by Steve Album to have been "perhaps the finest we have ever handled" when he sold it in 2012. Exhibiting heavy die rust, though the surfaces remain fully lustrous and studded with prominent die polish lines. Ex. Steve Album Auction 13 (18 May 2012, Lot 640)." The SCWC lists two types for this reign: KM 16.1 struck AH 1124-1141 and KM 16.2 struck AH 1136-1147. The sultani may have been intended to compete with the Venetian ducat familiar throughout the Mediterranean but we doubt the bey had access to enough gold to make a serious dent. Very similar sultanis from Tunisia also exist.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.25-3.44 g, gold, 23-24 mm diameter, the first specimen 3.32 g, the second specimen 3.37 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-22, KM 16.1 (Algeria), ICV-3293, UBK-5-01.
- Album, Stephen, Checklist of Islamic Coins, 3rd Ed. Santa Rosa, Stephen Album Rare Coins, 2011.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3064, featuring the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
- [2]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3076, featuring the Allen Moretti Swiss Collection and the James Mossman Collection of Canadian Coinage, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
Link to: