Turkey AH1293(2) 20 kurush
This specimen was lot 2403 in Sincona sale 59 (Zürich, October 2019), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted,
"OSMANISCHES REICH | ´Abd al-Hamid Khan II, 1293-1327 H./1876-1909 (m. 1918) AD, 20 Kurush 1293 H./Jahr 2, Qustantînîya. Tughra neben Rosenzweig über Regierungsjahr in zwölfbogiger Fassung, Münzstättenangabe und Datum des Regierungsanfangs in gleicher Einfassung. Sehr schön. (Turkey, Abdul Hamid II, 1876-1909, twenty kuruş of AH 1293, year 2, Constantinople mint. Very fine.)"
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 2 (1877). 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 1293-1295 (1876-78). The silver twenty kuruş was last issued to this standard in 1918.
Recorded mintage: 1,357,000.
Specifications: 24.05 g, .830 fine silver, .641 troy oz ASW, this specimen 23.67 g.
Catalog reference: KM 722, Ölcer 34.302, Pere 980, Sultan coll. 553, Dav-405.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona Auction 59: Gold and Silver Coins and Medals; Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2019.
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