Turkey AH 1203(8) zeri mahbub
This specimen was lot 2299 in Sincona sale 59 (Zürich, October 2019), where it sold for 150 CHF (about US$182 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"OSMANISCHES REICH | Selîm III., 1203-1222 H./1789-1807 AD. 1 Zer-i mahbûb 1203 H./Jahr 8, Islâmbûl (Istanbul). Tughra über Segensformel, Mzst. und Jahr des Regierungsanfangs, Rv. Titel, Regierungsjahr am Ende der dritten Zeile. Sehr schön-vorzüglich. (Turkey, Selim III, 1789-1807, obverse: Tughra with blessing, mintmark and accession date; Reverse: Title and regnal date at the end of the third line. Very fine-extremely fine.)"
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: 2.4 g, gold, 22-23 mm diameter, this specimen 2.39 g.
Catalog reference: Artuk 1899 (year 4), Pere 697, KM 522, Sultan coll. 1437.
- 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.
Link to: