Tripoli AH 1223(10) 10 para
This specimen was lot 421 in Stephen Album sale 39 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2021), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "TRIPOLI: Mahmud II, 1808-1839, BI 10 para, Tarabulus Gharb, AH1223 year 10, glorious original luster, NGC graded MS63, RRR, ex Landon Thomas Collection; ex Künker Auction 210, Lot 1861." This rare type is listed for years 9 and 10. Theoretically, forty paras = one piastre, but the constant debasements threw the ratio into confusion. In the eighteenth century, Tripoli, now part of Libya, was one of the Barbary States preying on commerce plying the Mediterranean. The bey of Tripoli and the United States fought a war in 1801-05 when the US refused the customary tribute.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.89 g, billon, this specimen 4.36 g.
Catalog reference: KM 134.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Uslu, Kaan, Beyazit, M. Fatih, and Kara, Tuncay, Ottoman Empire Coins 1687-1839 (AH 1099-1255), Istanbul: Anka Matbaacilik, 2010.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 39, featuring the John Sylvester, Jr., Collection of Annamese Medals and Orders, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2020.
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