Morocco AH 1320-Ln 1/2 dirham

Stack's Bowers September 2023 Collector's Choice sale, lot 75470

This specimen was lot 75470 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2023), where it sold for $100. The catalog description^[1] noted, "MOROCCO. 1/2 Dirham (1/20 Rial), AH 1320 (1902). Abd al-Aziz. NGC MS-65. NGC census: 1, none finer. A magnificent Gem minor that presents mainly argent surfaces tinged with champagne-lilac iridescence at certain angles. Contact marks, nicks, or scuffs are almost completely absent from the flan, while thick satin luster is a pleasure to rotate under light. Ideal for advanced condition specialists of Moroccan coinage who seek the finest certified." The ruler Abdul al-Aziz succeeded his father Hassan I in AH 1311. He continued having coins struck in Paris, and added issues struck in London and Berlin. The denominations were mazunas and dirhams, with one dirham = 50 mazunas. The 'crown' denomination was one rial, which was equal to ten dirhams. During this time, the ruler was honored on the coins not directly by name, but by a word or expression that alluded to him. This type was struck at London (Y18.1) and Paris (Y18.2).

Recorded mintage: 3,920,000 plus 2,400,000 from Paris.

Specification: 1.25 g, 0.835 fine silver, 15 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM-Y18.1.

Source:

Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
Gadoury, Victor, and George Cousinié, Monnaies Coloniales Françaises, 1670-1988, 2me Éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 1988.
Sanchez-Giron, J.M., Monedas de Marruecos, Ceuta, Spain: J.M. Sanchez-Giron, 1972.
^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, September 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancient & World Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.

Link to:

Morocco AH 1320-Ln 1/2 dirham

Navigation menu

Search