Egypt AH 1203(13) piastre
This specimen was lot 40234 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Costa Mesa, CA, August 2021), where it sold for $2,640. The catalog description[1] noted, "EGYPT. Piastre, AH 1203 Year 13 (1800). Misr (Cairo) Mint. Selim III. PCGS AU-55 Gold Shield. An EXTREMELY RARE and seldom encountered issue with a minuscule survival rate. According to the brilliant numismatic author Jean Lecompte only three pieces are known to the collecting community. Like many examples from this series, the strike is slightly uneven and somewhat crude displaying attractive mottled gray patina with hints of luster in the protected areas. A real treat for the specialist, this piece offers good eye appeal and is certain to pique the interest of many serious collectors." The coin shown is a billon piastre or forty para, from the reign of Sultan Selim III. It was struck at the Cairo Mint. The obverse bears the toughra, or signature, of the sultan. The reverse carries the ascension date and the text minted in Misr (Misr is Arabic for Egypt). The date is written as AH 1203 year 13, which translates to about 1801 AD. This coin was minted during the occupation of Egypt by the French forces under Napoleon. Napoleon landed in Egypt and had little difficulty in defeating the local Egyptian forces but found himself stranded when admiral Nelson destroyed his navy. He returned to France on a small craft, abandoning his army, and blamed others for the disaster.
Recorded mintage: 30,572.
Specification: 12.32 g, billon.
Catalog reference: KM-149; Lec-19.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The August 2021 ANA sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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