Saudi Arabia AH 1343 1/4 ghirsh
This type was struck for the newly formed kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the mid-1920's. It was a transitional coinage between the older Ottoman style (see Turkey) and what would become the coinage of the United Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This transitional coinage was often struck over older coins of Hejaz.
The first specimen shown was lot 1484 in Steve Album Auction #13 (May 18, 2012) and did not sell. The catalog descriptions[1] reads: "HEJAZ & NEJD: Abdul-Aziz bin Saud, as Sultan of Nejd, 1921-1927, AE ¼ ghirsh, AH1343, 70% of original silvering remains, struck over Hejaz ¼ piastre, Very Fine to Extremely Fine, ex. R. Merlin Null Collection." The second specimen was lot 75013 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2024), where it sold for $870. The catalog description[2] noted, "HEJAZ & NEJD. Silvered 1/4 Qirsh, AH 1343 (1924). Mecca Mint. Abd Al-Aziz Bin Sa'ud. NGC MS-62. Retaining some solid silvering, this nearly-Choice example stands as an alluring Mint State representative."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: copper or bronze.
Catalog reference: KM-1.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Album, Stephen. Stephen Album Auction 13, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, 2011.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, September 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
Link to:
- AH 1343 ½ ghirsh KM-2.1
- AH 1344 ¼ ghirsh
- Coins and currency dated 1924
- Return to coins from Hejaz or Saudi Arabia