Tunisia 1930 20 francs
This specimen was lot 257 in Sincona sale 31 (Zürich, October 2016), where it sold for 90 CHF (about US$107 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "FRENCH PROTECTORATE | Reign of Ahmad Pasha Bey (1348-1361ah/1929-1942ce) 20 francs 1930ce/1349ah AR xf." This scarce date was struck in Paris for Tunisia before World War Two to the obsolete standard of the French twenty francs of 1929-39. The type was struck 1930-34; the years 1931 and 1933 are very rare. It was struck in the name of Ahmad Pasha Bey, a French puppet. The French left in 1956 and in 1957 a republic was established, ousting the discredited monarchy.
Recorded mintage: 20,000.
Specification: 20 g, 0.680 fine silver, .434 troy oz ASW, this specimen 20.06 g.
Catalog reference: Gad 104, KM 256.
- [1]Jürg Richter and Ralph W. Miller, Tunisian Coins and Medals: The Miller Collection, Auction 31, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2016.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
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