Morocco 1979 500 dirhams
This specimen was lot 57743 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2024), where it sold for $1,320. The catalog description[1] noted, "MOROCCO. 500 Dirhams, AH 1399/1979. Al-Hassan II. PROOF-69 Ultra Cameo." Morocco, unlike the rest of the Maghreb, was never under Ottoman control or even influence, being ruled by native dynasts. It was briefly (1912-56) partitioned between France and Spain but was restored to its native dynasty after World War Two, which family still rules today. This type was struck in small numbers for the king's birthday 1979-1993 (AH 1399-1413).
Recorded mintage: 3,000 plus 300 proofs.
Specification: 12.90 g, 0.900 fine gold, 0.3733 troy oz AGW (same module as an old French 40 francs).
Catalog reference: KM-Y71.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, January 2024 NYINC Auction, featuring the Emilio M Ortiz Collection and a Symphony of Russian Rarities, the Rothschild-Piatigorsky Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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