Egypt 1930 100 piastres
This specimen was lot 74573 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $1,260. The catalog description[1] noted, "EGYPT. 100 Piastres, AH 1349/1930. London Mint. Fuad I. ANACS MS-63. Highly flashy and exhibiting a touch of glossiness through the fields, with strong details and only mild marks visible." The Kingdom of Egypt was established in 1922, with Fuad I as the first ruler. He had previously been sultan (1917-1922) when Egypt was a British protectorate. During his reign, Egyptian coinage was changed significantly from previous issues, with the portrait of the leader adorning the obverse. Previously, no human portraits appeared on coins in accordance with Muslim custom.
The coin pictured is a gold 100 piastres. The portrait of Fuad I is on the obverse, with the year reverse (both Hijra and Gregorian dates shown), denomination, and 'Kingdom of Egypt' written in Arabic.
Recorded mintage: 6,000.
Specification: 8.5 g, 0.875 fine gold, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: Fr-107 (formerly Fr-32); KM-354.
- 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, 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, September 2025 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, including Selections from the Richard Margolis Collection and Selections from the L.E. Bruun Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
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