Turkey AH1223(30) cedid mahmudiye
This specimen was lot 3434 in Sincona sale 11 (Zürich, May 2013), where it sold for 275 CHF (about US$340 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"TÜRKEI Mahmud II. 1808-1839. 1 Mahmudiye 1836. Fast FDC. (Turkey, Mahmud II, 1808-39, mahmudiye of 1836, choice uncirculated.)"
This specimen is from a series struck in Istanbul during the reign of Sultan Mahmud II (r. 1808-39). Ottoman coins were dated using regnal years; the reverse bears the date AH 1223 (= 1808 A.D.) while the obverse bears the regnal year 30 (AH 1252 = April 1836-April 1837). The Hejira calendar uses a lunar year instead of a solar year, so its starting date moves from year to year. This type was issued years 26-32 (1832-38). The gold was the victim of frequent manipulation and the denominations changed names in a confusing manner. The SCWC lists zeri mahbubs, rumi altins, adli altins, yeni altins and hayriye altins for this period. Matters were regularized in the reign of Abdul Mejid, with gold coins issued in multiples of the kuruş.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.58-1.60 g, gold, this specimen 1.60 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-111, Schl. 270, KM 645.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Uslu, Kaan, Beyazit, M. Fatih, and Kara, Tuncay, Ottoman Empire Coins 1687-1839 (AH 1099-1255), Istanbul: Anka Matbaacilik, 2010.
- 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.
- [1]Numismatic Coins, Medals & Banknotes, Auction 11, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2013.
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