Tunisia 1904-A 20 francs
This specimen was lot 3227 in Sincona sale 87 (Zürich, October 2023), where it sold for 380 CHF (about US$512 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"TUNESIEN, Unter Frankreich. Muhammad al-Hadi Bey, 1320-1324 AH (1902-1906). 20 Francs 1322 AH (1904 AD), Paris. Fast vorzüglich. (Tunisia, French protectorate, Muhammad al-Hadi Bey, 1902-06, twenty francs of AH 1322/1904, Paris mint. About extremely fine.)"
This type was struck 1903-06 by the French in the name of Muhammed Al-Hadi Bey, nominal ruler of Tunisia. Gold twenty francs were struck to the standard of the Franc Germinal until 1928, long after metropolitan France had abandoned it. The 1892-A is the most common date. This date also comes with Hegira date AH 1321.
Recorded mintage: 600,000 including AH 1321.
Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, this specimen 6.45 g.
Catalog reference: Slg. Miller 217, KM 234, Fr-12.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 87, World Coins and Medals, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2023.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
Link to: