Syria 1948 2-1/2 piastres
The first specimen was lot 987 in Stephen Album sale 30 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2018), where it sold for $352.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "SYRIA: Republic, 2½ piastres, 1948/AH1367, only 11 examples known, PCGS graded Specimen-66, RR, ex King's Norton Mint Collection." The second specimen was lot 72821 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, October 2019), where it sold for $204. The catalog description[2] noted, "SYRIA. 2-1/2 Piastres, 1948. PCGS SPECIMEN-65 Gold Shield. Tremendously brilliant and lustrous, this Gem is exceedingly captivating and alluring. Ex: King's Norton Mint Collection." This specimen was issued by Syria during the time of the Republic for 1948 and 1956 only. The denomination was last issued in 1973. Syria, part of the Ottoman Empire since 1516, broke free as part of the Arab Revolt during World War One but fell under French domination in 1920. French control, never firm, collapsed during World War Two and Syria obtained independence in 1944. The country has been ruled by various dictators since. This type was accompanied by five (KM 82) and ten piastres (KM 83).
Recorded mintage: 2,500,000.
Specification: copper-nickel.
Catalog reference: KM-81.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 30, featuring the George Anderson Collection of Tibetan Coins, the Dr. John W. Lund Collection of Swedish Coins and the Mike Edwards Collection, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2018.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The October 2019 Collector's Choice Sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
Link to: