Lebanon (1941) piastre
This specimen was lot 72142 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $168. The catalog description[1] noted, "LEBANON. Brass Piastre, ND (1942-45). PCGS MS-63 Gold Shield. Local (emergency/WWII) issue. Showing the effects of a somewhat crude manufacture, this choice piece nevertheless offers alluring brilliance and solid detail overall." This specimen was issued by Lebanon as a wartime issue in brass. During the war, Germany, through Vichy France, used Lebanon to move military equipment east into Iraq. To thwart this, the Free French recognized Lebanese independence and moved British and French troops into the area. This type, along with the similar half piastre and 2½ piastres, is listed in the SCWC for 1941.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: brass.
Catalog reference: KM-12; Lec-46.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]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.
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