Turkey AH1293(16) 250 kurush
This specimen was part of lot 31668 in Heritage sale 3049 (Long Beach, September 2016), which sold for $5,933.75. The catalog description[1] noted,
"Abdul Hamid II gold 4-Piece Certified Date Set AH 1293//16 (1876), 1) 25 Kurush - MS64 NGC, KM 729; 2) 50 Kurush - MS64 NGC, KM 731; 3) 100 Kurush - MS63 NGC, KM 730; 4) 250 Kurush - MS65 NGC, KM 732. An exceptional gold date set and given the uniform superb quality (each example showing in rarely seen condition) quite possibly once given as a presentation set, as the odds of these coins not residing alongside each other for their entire existence would be extreme. Individually, each is the finest certified at NGC, but as a set, possessing a seldom-rivaled "wow" factor. From the Commander Collection."
This specimen is from a series struck in Istanbul during the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid (r. 1876-1909). This denomination was introduced during the rule of Sultan Abdul Mejid (r. 1839-61). Ottoman coins were dated using regnal years; the reverse bears the date AH 1293 (= 1876 A.D.) while the obverse bears the regnal year 16 (= AH 1308 = Aug. 1890-Aug. 1891). 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 AH 1299-1327 (1880-1908) and is rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 18.04 g, 0.917 fine gold, .531 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Fr-142 (formerly Fr-40), KM 732.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World Coin Auction 3049, featuring the Ohio Valley Collection, the Redwood Collection and the F.P. Briand Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2016.
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