Turkey AH 1203(1) altin

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Künker sale 264, lot 3349

This specimen was lot 2065 in Jean Elsen sale 134 (Brussels, September 2017), where it sold for €270 (about US$381 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,

"OTTOMAN EMPIRE, Selim III (AD 1789-1807/AH 1203-1222) AV altin (findik), AH 1203, year 1, Islambul. Very Fine - Extremely Fine. (Turkey, Ottoman empire, Selim III, 1789-1807, gold altin of the year 1, Constantinople mint. Very fine to extremely fine.)"

The vast majority of survivors have been removed from jewelry. 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 1203, years 1, 2, 3, 6. It may have been intended to trade for a ducat but we can't if the fineness matched the 23½ carat standard of the ducat. The gold was the victim of frequent manipulation and the denominations changed names in a confusing manner. 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.

Recorded mintage: unknown but common for the series.

Specification: 3.45 g, gold, this specimen 3,43 g.

Catalog reference: KM 526, Fr-75.

Source:

  • [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 134, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2017.
  • 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.

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