Hyderabad AH1366/38 1/2 ashrafi
This specimen was lot 34252 in Heritage sale 3082 (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $1,500. The catalog description[1] noted, "India: Hyderabad. Mir Usman Ali Khan gold 1/2 Ashrafi AH 1366 Year 38 (1946/7) MS63 NGC, Hyderabad (Farkhanda Bunyad) mint. An apparently unpublished regnal year for this date, possessing a fully choice appearance. The David Fore Collection contained an example of the same regnal year, which was cataloged as a potential mule. Mislabeled on the holder as Year 37." The Indian princely state of Hyderabad was one of the few large enough and wealthy enough to mint an extensive series of gold coins. This type, struck for Mir Usman Ali Khan (AH 1329-1367 or 1911-48 A.D.), is listed for AH1331-1362 and is presumably common. The regnal date is on the reverse, about 8 o'clock.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 5.59 g, 0.910 fine gold, AGW 0.1625 oz.
Catalog reference: Fr-1166, cf. KM-Y56.2 (this regnal year unlisted).
- 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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Online Auction 3082, featuring the Caranett Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
Link to: