Tunisia AH 1273 50 piastres
The coin shown is a gold fifty 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 174 on Dec 13, 2011 at the Kunker Auction #199 in Osnabrück, Germany, where it sold for 550 euros. The catalog description reads:
"OSMANISCHE MÜNZEN Münzen nach der Münzreform von 1845 Goldprägungen der Münzstätte Tûnis 50 Riyal 1273 H., Tûnis. Mit Muhammad Bay (1272-1276 H.). Sehr schön (Ottoman coins of the reform of 1845, Tunis mint, gold fifty riyals of AH 1273, very 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 fifty kurush, being worth about 134 kurush in gold.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 9.84 g, 0.900 fine gold, 0.2847 oz AGW, this specimen 9.71 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-3, Fenina 331; KM 127; Ölcer 31.622; 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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