Tunisia AH 1264 2 piastres
The coin shown is a silver two piastres from the reign of Sultan Abdul Mejid, minted in Tunis. Tunisia was under the control of the Ottomans for centuries until lack of financial resources forced it into dependence on France, which made it a protectorate in 1881. This specimen was lot 513 in Stephen Album sale 32 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2018), where it sold for $440.63. The catalog description[1] noted, "TUNIS: Abdul Mejid, 1839-1861, AR 2 piastres, Tunis, AH1264, KM-106var, countermarked star on reverse, nice Fine, RR. The star countermark is found principally on coins dated AH1288 and later, and is very rare on earlier examples. This piece sold in our Auction 17, Lot 375, for $520." This type was struck AH 1263-1264 as part of the reform of AH 1263.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 6.5 g, 0.900 fine silver, 0.1881 oz ASW, this specimen 6.21 g.
Catalog reference: KM 106.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 32, featuring the Don Erickson Collection of German Coins, Part II and the Hazerfans Collection of Ottoman Empire Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2018.
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