Tunisia AH 1294 4 piastres
The coin shown is a silver four piastres from the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, minted in Tunis. 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 645 on Dec 13, 2011 at the Kunker Auction #199 in Osnabruck, Germany, where it sold for 260 euros. The catalog description reads:
"OSMANISCHE MÜNZEN 'ABD AL-HAMÎD KHAN II. (TÜRKEI-TÜRKISCH: ABDÜLHAMIT HAN) 10. SHA’BÂN 1293 - 6. RABÎ II 1327 H. 31. AUGUST 1876 - 27. APRIL 1909, GESTORBEN 10. FEBRUAR 1918 Silberprägungen der Münzstätte Tûnis 4 Riyal 1294 H., Tûnis. Mit Muhammad as-Sâdiq, Bay von Tûnis 1276-1299. R Sehr schön-vorzüglich (Ottoman coins of Abdul Hamid II (1876-1909) and Bey Muhammad al-Sadiq (AH 1276-1299), Tunis mint, silver four riyals of AH 1294, very fine to extremely fine.)"
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 12.80 g, 0.835 fine silver, 0.3436 oz. ASW, this specimen 11.72 g.
Catalog reference: Fenina 496; KM 186; Ölcer 34.843; Pere -.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
Link to: