Tunisia AH 1304 25 piastres
This specimen was lot 181 in Sincona sale 31 (Zürich, October 2016), where it sold for 2,000 CHF (about US$2,374 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "OTTOMAN TUNIS | Transitional Coinage 25 riyals15 Fr 1304ah (1887ce) AU RRR Fdc. This coin is the first issue to give witness to the presence of the French in Tunisia. The French government set the official exchange rate as noted on the coin itself. A few years later, the franc along with its corresponding decimal system would completely replace the riyal. Cf. Fenina, pages 267-269. Beginning with the year 1298ah (1881ce), during the regency of Muhammed al-Sadiq Bey, the name of the Ottoman Sultan no longer appears on Tunisian coins. Henceforth, only the name of the reigning Bey is to be read on the obverse. The French Protectorate was founded that same year although decimal coinage was not introduced until 1308ah (1891ce)." This one year type, representing the transition from the old Turkish currency to the franc imported by the French occupiers, is scarce, verging on rare. It is dual denominated in piastres and francs.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 4.92 g, 0.900 fine gold, this specimen 4.84 g.
Catalog reference: Fen 528, KM A212.
- [1]Jürg Richter and Ralph W. Miller, Tunisian Coins and Medals: The Miller Collection, Auction 31, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2016.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
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