Oran 1921 10 centimes token
The first specimen was lot 73091 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2023), where it sold for $6 (sic). The catalog description[1] noted, "ALGERIA. Aluminum Chamber of Commerce 10 Centimes Token, 1921. NGC MS-65. Obverse: Coat-of-arms; Reverse: Palm tree with rising sun in background." Wikipedia comments,
"Oran (Arabic: وَهران, romanized: Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the northwest of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria, after the capital, Algiers, because of its population and commercial, industrial and cultural importance. It is 432 km (268 mi) west-southwest from Algiers. The total population of the city was 803,329 in 2008, while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second-largest city in Algeria."
These tokens were issued by the Chamber of Commerce of Oran after World War One, when coinage went into hiding. France had ruled Algeria since conquering it in the 1840's and many Frenchmen had emigrated there and set up farms, businesses, etc. However, the German occupation of France during World War Two fatally weakened French control and the native Muslim majority began to resist discrimination and oppression. Finally, after an eight year war, president Charles de Gaulle braved the wrath of the French right wing and granted Algeria independence in 1962.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: aluminum.
Catalog reference: KM unlisted.
- 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, November 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancient & World Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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