Tunisia AH 1264 5 piastres
The coin shown is a silver five 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 86 in Sincona sale 31 (Zürich, October 2016), where it sold for 900 CHF (about US$1,068 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "OTTOMAN TUNIS | Abdul Mejid (1255-1277ah/1839-1861ce) 5 riyals 1264ah (1847ce) AR RR Fdc." This rare type of AH 1263-1264 is one of the first milled coins issued in Tunisia. The five piastres did not match the Turkish five kurush, being closer to about 14½ kurush in silver.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 16.0 g, 0.900 fine silver, 0.463 oz ASW, this specimen 16.24 g.
Catalog reference: Fen 289, KM 107.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th 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.
Link to:
- AH 1263 5 piastres
- AH 1264 2 piastres
- AH 1264 3 nasri
- Coins and currency dated 1848
- return to coins of Tunisia