Turkey AH 1187(9) zeri mahbub
This specimen was lot 2287 in Sincona sale 59 (Zürich, October 2019), where it sold for 200 CHF (about US$242 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"OSMANISCHES REICH | ´Abd al-Hamîd I., 1187-1203 H./1774-1789 AD, 1 Zer-i mahbûb 1187 H./Jahr 9, Islâmbûl (Istanbul). Tughra in 2. Form (Khân als unterste Zeile) über Mzst. und Jahr, Rv. Titel, Regierungsjahr am Ende der dritten Zeile. FDC. (Turkey, Abdul Hamid I, 1774-89, zeri mahbub of AH 1187, year 9, Istanbul mint. Obverse: Tughra in 2nd form (Khân as bottom line) over mintmark and date; reverse: Title, year of reign at the end of the third line. Uncirculated.)"
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. The gold was the victim of frequent manipulation and the denominations changed names in a confusing manner. This type is listed fairly inexpensively in the SCWC for year 1 thru 15. However, the vast majority of survivors have been removed from jewelry. The SCWC lists zeri mahbubs, rumi altins, adli altins, yeni altins and hayriye altins for this period. Matters were regularized in the reign of Abdul Mejid, with gold coins issued in multiples of the kuruş. This type was struck years 2 thru 15.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 2.60 g, gold, this specimen 2.63 g.
Catalog reference: Artuk 1867 (year 1). Pere 661 (year 10), KM 416, Sultan coll. 1306.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, Sincona Auction 59: Gold and Silver Coins and Medals; Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2019.
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