Tunisia ND c/m on AH 1294 4 piastres
The coin shown is a silver four piastres from the reign of Sultan Abdul Aziz, minted in Tunis. It was struck in AH 1294, but was countermarked with a star in AH 1295, during the rule of Sultan Abdul Hamid II. 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 649 on Dec 13, 2011 at the Kunker Auction #199 in Osnabruck, Germany, where it sold for 105 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 Gegenstempel Stern von 1295 H./1878 AD. Mit Muhammad as-Sâdiq, Bay von Tûnis 1276-1299. Sehr schön. (Ottoman coins of Abdul Aziz (1861-76), Tunis mint, silver four riyals of AH 1294, in the name of Muhammad al-Sadiq, with the star counterstamp of AH 1295. Very fine.)"
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 12.80 g, 0.835 fine silver, 0.3436 oz. ASW, this specimen 11.93 g.
Catalog reference: Fenina 496; KM 187; Ölcer 32.843; 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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