Turkey 1948 1/2 kurush
The first specimen was lot 31904 in Heritage sale 3073 (Chicago, April 2019), where it sold for $2,640. The catalog description[1] noted, "Republic 1/2 Kurush 1948 MS64 NGC. Also valued as a 20 Para, a rare type with a mintage of just 150 pieces, none of which entered circulation. Perfectly struck with a gold-green patina. From the Engelen Collection of World Coinage." The second specimen was lot 72842 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, October 2020), where it sold for $3,840. The catalog description[2] noted, "TURKEY. Brass 1/2 Kurus (20 Para), 1948. PCGS MS-65 Gold Shield. This rather RARE type was never released into circulation and remains quite elusive. Incredibly brilliant and very well preserved." This coin should probably be listed as a pattern as the gold issue outnumbers the brass.
Recorded mintage: 150 plus a few struck in gold.
Specification: 1.7 g, brass, 16 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 884.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3073, featuring the Lake County Collection of British coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The October 2020 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
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