Turkey AH1327(2) 500 kurush Fr-163

Sincona sale 43, lot 3815

This specimen was lot 3815 in Sincona sale 43 (Zürich, October 2017), where it sold for 2,600 CHF (about US$3,103 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"TÜRKEI, Mohammed V. 1909-1918 500 Piaster 1327 H., Jahr 2 (1911). Edirne Prägung auf den Stadtbesuch in Edirne. Rashâd neben der Thugra. Sehr selten. Sehr schön. Henkel- und Tragespuren. NGC AU Details. (sultanate of Turkey, Mohammed V, 1909-18, 500 piastres of AH 1327, year 2, on his mint visit to Edirne. Very rare, Very fine, Traces of mounting.)"

This specimen was struck in Edirne (Adrianople) during the reign of Sultan Muhammed V (r. 1909-18) when he visited there. Mint visit coinage also exists for Kosovo. We haven't figured out why these were made as no production coinage is attested from Edirne or Kosovo during this period. 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 1327 (= 1909 A.D.) while the obverse bears the regnal year 4 (= AH 1330). The Hejira calendar uses a lunar year instead of a solar year, so its starting date moves from year to year. The last gold 500 kurush of this size was issued in 1929, under Ataturk's Republic.

Recorded mintage: unknown but few.

Specification: 36.08 g, 0.917 fine gold.

Catalog reference: Pere 1007, KM 795, Fr-163 (formerly Fr-60).

Source:

^[1]Richter, Jürg, Sincona sale 43, Gold and Silver Coins and Medals, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2017.
Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
Uslu, Kaan, Beyazit, M. Fatih, and Kara, Tuncay, Ottoman Empire Coins, Istanbul: Mas Matbaacilik A.S., 2007.
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.

Link to:

Turkey AH1327(2) 500 kurush Fr-163

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