Turkey AH 1203(15) 1/2 zeri mahbub
This specimen was lot 34230 in Heritage sale 3076 (Long Beach, CA, September 2019), where it sold for $528. The catalog description[1] noted, "Islamic Dynasties: Ottoman Empire. Selim III gold 1/2 Zeri Mahbub AH 1203 Year 15 (1802/3) MS65 NGC, Is[t]ambul mint (In Turkey). Quite well struck for type, exhibiting generous luster and of scarce quality. Included with Coin Galleries Ticket from Mail Bid Sale May 23, 1984, Lot 247." 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 10 thru 19 (1799-1808). 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.
Specification: 1.2 g, gold.
Catalog reference: KM 517.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Uslu, Kaan, Beyazit, M. Fatih, and Kara, Tuncay, Ottoman Empire Coins 1687-1839 (AH 1099-1255), Istanbul: Anka Matbaacilik, 2010.
- Album, Stephen, Checklist of Islamic Coins, 3rd Ed. Santa Rosa, Stephen Album Rare Coins, 2011.
- 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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3076, featuring the Allen Moretti Swiss Collection and the James Mossman Collection of Canadian Coinage, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
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