Kuwait AH 1401 (1981) 5 fils

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from the Stack's Bowers 2020 Collector's Choice sale, lot 73106
Kuwait SB620-73106r.jpg
from the Stack's Bowers June 2021 Collector's Choice sale, lot 73552
SB621-73552r.jpg

The first specimen was lot 73106 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, June 2020), where it sold for $204. The catalog description[1] noted, "KUWAIT. 5 Fils, 1981. Kings Norton Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-66 Gold Shield. With only a small handful graded finer in the PCGS population report, this alluring specimen presents tremendous radiance and brilliance shimmering with a delightful cartwheel nature. Ex: Kings Norton Mint Collection." The second specimen was lot 73552 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $180. The catalog description[2] noted, "KUWAIT. 5 Fils, AH 1401/1981. Llantrisant Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-67 Gold Shield. Highly vibrant and brilliant, this decisive Gem presents a light matte nature on account of some rather extensive die polishing. Ex: Kings Norton Mint Collection." Kuwait, a sheikhdom on the Persian Gulf, was long under the domination of the Ottoman Turks. As the Turkish grip relaxed in the late nineteenth century, Kuwait fell under the "protection" of Great Britain, which used it as a base until 1961, when British troops evacuated and Kuwait was granted independence. The modern coinage dates from that time, wherein 1000 fils = 1 dinar. The boat pictured on the obverse is a dhow, the wooden sailing ship common in the Gulf. This type was struck 1962-97. Its catalog value is low and only the King's Norton mint provenance saved it from being tossed into a junk box.

Recorded mintage: 7,000,000.

Specification: 2.50 g, nickel-brass, 19.5 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM 10.

Sources:

  • Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
  • [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The June 2020 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
  • [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.

Link to:

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