Egypt AH 1223(29) 5 qirsh
The coin shown is a silver five qirsh from the reign of Sultan Mahmud II. It was struck at the Cairo Mint. The obverse bears the toughra, or signature, of the sultan. Below the toughra is the denomination (qirsh), abbreviated as 'sh', with the number 1 above. The reverse carries the ascension date and the text minted in Misr (Misr is Arabic for Egypt). The date is written as AH 1223 year 29, which translates to about 1835 AD. This was one of the first series to be struck on milled planchets.
The first specimen shown was sold as lot 13218 on Sept 9, 2004 at the 2004 September (HWCA) Signature Sale #357, for $517. The catalog description reads "Mahmud II 5 Piastres 1223AH Year 29, nice VF-XF, tiny obverse edge flaws. A pleasing example of this rare type. From the Lake Pearl Middle Eastern Collection." The second specimen was lot 31422 in Heritage sale 3073 (Chicago, April 2019), where it sold for $960. The catalog description[1] noted, "Ottoman Empire. Mahmud II 5 Qirsh AH 1223 Year 29 (1835/6) VG10 NGC, Misr mint (in Egypt). A significant Egyptian rarity, and a key type from Mahmud's reign scarcely encountered in any grade. Although demonstrating considerable evidence of circulation, this piece retains full detail to the designs and a pleasing eye appeal. A fully satisfactory representative of the type. From the Engelen Collection of World Coinage."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 7.0 g, 24-26 mm diameter, 0.833 silver.
Catalog reference: KM 184.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Valentine, W.H., Modern Copper Coins of the Muhammadan States, London: Spink and Sons, 1911.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3073, featuring the Lake County Collection of British coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
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