Turkey AH 1187(2) 20 para

Steve Album sale 38, lot 2372

This specimen was lot 2372 in Stephen Album sale 39 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2021), where it sold for $78. The catalog description^[1] noted, "TURKEY: Abdul Hamid I, 1774-1789, AR 20 para, Kostantiniye, AH1187 year 2, some very light porosity, VF-EF, ex Ahmed Sultan Collection." We think this twenty para, struck years 1-8, was equal to half a kurush or one-third zolota but the coinage system was so confused that we aren't sure.

Specification: billon, 8.6-9.6 g, this specimen 9.48 g.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Catalog reference: KM-387.

Source:

• 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, Istanbul: Mas Matbaacilik A.S., 2007.
• ^[1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 39, featuring the John Sylvester, Jr., Collection of Annamese Medals and Orders, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2020.

Links to:

• AH 1187(1) 20 para, second toughra
• AH 1187(1) kuruş, second toughra
• AH 1187(2) piastre
• AH 1187(2) zeri mahbub
• AH 1187(4) 10 para
• AH 1187(4) zolota = 30 para
• Coins and currency dated 1774