Turkey AH 1187(10) 1/2 zeri mahbub
This specimen was lot 33916 in Heritage sale 3064 (Chicago, April 2018), where it sold for $504. The catalog description[1] noted, "Abdul Hamid I gold 1/2 Zeri Mahbub AH 1187 Year 10 (1784) MS65 PCGS. An incredibly well-preserved gem with radiant golden luster. This is currently the only certified example at PCGS, and impressively so at this level." Turkish issues before the reform of 1839 are a mess of constantly changing denominations as the government attempted to debase its way out of perpetual bankruptcy. This type was struck during years 1-14 of Abdul Hamid's reign. It is not listed as expensive but is very difficult to find nice; the plate coin in the SCWC is holed.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.3 g, gold.
Catalog reference: KM 410.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- 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]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3064, featuring the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
Link to: