Turkey AH1293(26) 500 kurush
This specimen was lot 31669 in Heritage sale 3049 (Long Beach, September 2016), where it sold for $5,170. The catalog description[1] noted, "Abdul Hamid II gold 500 Kurush AH1293//26 MS63 NGC, Constantinople mint. Extremely rare quality for this issue with pinpoint strike detailing and stunning mirrored flash in the fields. Light handling in the form of minor surface ticks defines the grade, but does little to distract from the overall mesmerizing quality. Not surprisingly, the single finest example of the date graded by NGC, and easily worthy of an advanced cabinet of world gold issues. 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 26 (= AH 1318). 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); some dates are listed with very low mintages but the SCWC prices them all the same. The last gold 500 kurush of this size was issued in 1929, under Ataturk's Republic.
Recorded mintage: 8,735.
Specification: 36.08 g, 0.917 fine gold.
Catalog reference: KM 733, Fr-141 (formerly Fr-39).
- [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.
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
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