Tunisia 1931 25 centimes
This specimen was lot 323 in Sincona sale 31 (Zürich, October 2016), where it sold for 160 CHF (about US$190 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "FRENCH PROTECTORATE, 25 centimes 1929ce/1350ah NiAe RR; error coin xf." This type was struck in AH 1350, 1352 and 1357 in the name of Ahmad Pasha Bey, along with five and ten centimes. By this point in Tunisian history, the Ottomans had lost influence and France had gained control through debt ownership, making the Tunisia a protectorate. Starting in AH 1308 / 1891 AD, all coins began showing both Arabic and French legends, and the denominations became decimal-based. All minting during the French protectorate period occurred in Paris (privy marks). The coin is common but the error is rare.
Recorded mintage: 300,000.
Specification: 5 g, aluminum-nickel-bronze, holed, this specimen 4.89 g.
Catalog reference: KM 260.
- Gadoury, Victor, and George Cousinié, Monnaies Coloniales Françaises, 1670-1988, 2me Éd., Monaco: Éditions Victor Gadoury, 1988.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Jürg Richter and Ralph W. Miller, Tunisian Coins and Medals: The Miller Collection, Auction 31, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2016.
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