Egypt AH 1277(3) 10 para
The coin shown is a silver ten para from the reign of Sultan Abdul Aziz. It was struck at the Cairo Mint. The obverse bears the toughra, or signature, of the sultan, with the denomination written below (abbreviated as the letter 'p' for para) with the number 10 above. A crude floral design sits right of the toughra. The reverse carries the accession date and the text minted in Misr (Misr is Arabic for Egypt). The date is written as AH 1277 year 3, which translates to about 1862 AD. Uslu[1] lists this issue as very rare. This type was struck years 2 thru 9 (1861-68) along with KM 241 (copper, no flower on obverse) and KM 242 (copper, flower on obverse). Forty para made a qirsh or piastre.
The first specimen was part of lot 330 on Dec 13, 2011 at the Kunker Auction #199 in Osnabrück, Germany, where it sold for 120 Euros. The catalog description reads:
"OSMANISCHE MÜNZEN 'ABD AL-'AZÎZ KHAN (TÜRKEI-TÜRKISCH: ABDÜLAZIZ HAN)) 15. DHÛ I-HIJJA 1277 - 5. JUMÂDÂ II 1293 H. 25. JUNI 1861 - 30. MAI 1876, GESTORBEN 5. JUNI 1876 Silberprägungen der Münzstätte Misr (Kairo) 10 Para 1277 H., 2, 3, 4 und 5, Misr (Kairo). 0,35; 0,33; 0,35 und 0,35 g. KM 243; Ölcer 32.579-582; Pere 941. 4 Stück. Alle selten. Sehr schön und vorzüglich Das Jahr 4 (zweifellos echt) ohne Rändelung (Ottoman coins of Abdul Aziz, 1861-76, Cairo mint. Silver ten paras, AH 1277, years 2, 3, 4 and 5, all rare, very fine to extremely fine, the year 4 is authentic but clipped.)"
The second specimen was lot 454 in Stephen Album sale 30 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2018), where it sold for $152.75. The catalog description[2] noted, "EGYPT: Abdul Aziz, 1861-1876, AR 10 para, Misr, AH1277 year 3, NGC graded MS65." The third specimen was lot 2055 in Stephen Album sale 50 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2024), where it sold for $72. The catalog description[3] noted, "EGYPT: Abdul Aziz, 1861-1876, AR 10 para, Misr, AH1277 year 3, a better date for this type, an above-average strike with choice luster, PCGS graded MS64." The fourth specimen was lot 74312 in Stack's Bowers May 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2026), where it did not sell. The catalog description[4] noted, "EGYPT. Ottoman Empire. 10 Para, AH 1277 Year 3 (1862/3). Cairo (Misr) Mint. Abdul Aziz. NGC MS-67. A beautiful Superb-Gem, offering rich luster and razor sharp details."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: About 0.30 g, 0.833 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM 243; Ölcer 32.580.
- 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]Uslu, Kaan, Beyazit, M. Fatih, and Kara, Tuncay. Ottoman Empire Coins, Istanbul: Mas Matbaacilik A.S., 2007.
- [2]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 30, featuring the George Anderson Collection of Tibetan Coins, the Dr. John W. Lund Collection of Swedish Coins and the Mike Edwards Collection, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2018.
- [3]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 50, featuring selections from the Dr. Robert A. Rosenfeld Collection, the Hakim Hamidi Collection, the Almer H. Orr III Collection and the Solar Collection, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2024.
- [4]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, May 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients, World Coins & World Paper Money, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2026.
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