Egypt AH 1223(5) zeri mahbub
The coin shown is a gold mahbub from the reign of Sultan Mahmud II. It was struck at the Cairo Mint. The denomination 'mahbub' was used prior to the coinage reform of 1834, after which gold coins were denominated in qirsh. The obverse bears the toughra, or signature, of the sultan. The reverse carried Arabic script similar to that found on older gold coins from the reign of Mustafa IV. The date is AH 1223 year 5, which translates to about 1812 AD.
The example pictured was sold by Heritage Auction Galleries (Lot 13228) on September 9, 2004, for $1,495. The catalog description noted, "Mahmud II gold Zeri Mahbub 1223AH Year 5, fully lustrous AU, crudely made, but very attractive. Very rare type and grade. From the Lake Pearl Middle Eastern Collection."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 0.875 fine gold, 23-26 mm, crude flan; this specimen 23 mm, 2.36 grams.
Catalog reference: Fr-61, KM 197.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Uslu, Kaan, Beyazit, M. Fatih, and Kara, Tuncay, Ottoman Empire Coins 1687-1839 (AH 1099-1255), Istanbul: Anka Matbaacilik, 2010.
- 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.
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