Tunisia AH 1272 100 piastres
The coin shown is a gold hundred piastres from the reign of Sultan Abdul Mejid, minted in Tunis. After AH 1272, all coins mentioned the local ruler (or Bey) of Tunis, along with the Ottoman sultan. 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 170 on Dec 13, 2011 at the Kunker Auction #199 in Osnabruck, Germany, where it sold for 1600 euros. The catalog description reads:
"OSMANISCHE MÜNZEN Münzen nach der Münzreform von 1845 Goldprägungen der Münzstätte Tûnis 100 Riyal 1272 H., Tûnis. Mit Muhammad Bay (1272-1276 H.), mit Fahne über dem Namen des Bay. R Vorzüglich (Ottoman coins of the reform of 1845, Tunis mint, gold hundred riyals of AH 1272, rare, extremely fine)"
This type of AH 1272-1274 is from the first series of milled gold coinage in Tunisia. It was larger than the contemporary Turkish hundred kurush, being worth about 267 kurush in gold.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 19.68 g, 0.900 fine gold, 0.5695 oz AGW, this specimen 19.32 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-1, Fenina 326; KM 130; Ölcer 31.604; Pere -.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
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