Tunisia AH 1281 5 piastres KM-Pn8
The coin shown is a copper five piastre pattern from the reign of Sultan Abdul Aziz, minted in Paris. After AH 1272, all coins mentioned the local ruler (or Bey) of Tunis, along with the Ottoman sultan. For the issues AH 1276 onward, the local Bey was Muhammad al-Sadiq. 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 2705 on June 17, 2013 at the Kunker Auction #199 in Osnabruck, Germany, where it sold for 400 euros. The catalog description reads:
"EUROPÄISCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN TÜRKEI Abdul Aziz, 1861-1876. Kupferabschlag des 5 Riyal 1281 H., Tûnis (Heaton Mint, Birmingham). Name des Sultans in Zweigen// Name des Bay von Tunis, "Münzstätte" und Jahr in Zweigen. R Polierte Platte (Turkey, Abdul Aziz, 1861-76, copper strike of the five riyals, AH 1281, Heaton mint. Name of the sultan and the bey of Tunis, mint city and year. Rare, proof.)"
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 0.61g, copper.
Catalog reference: Ölcer 32-774; KM Pn 8.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
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