Turkey AH 1223(13) kurush
This specimen was lot 75813 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2024), where it sold for $240. The catalog description[1] noted, "TURKEY. Ottoman Empire. Kurush, AH 1223 Year 13 (1820/1). Istanbul (Constantinople) Mint. Mahmud II. PCGS MS-62. The only example for the date in the PCGS census, this specimen presents some striking weakness, but remains without time spent in commerce." This type was struck years 3-13 and has a high catalog value in this grade. Altho all of the coinage was debased during Mahmud's reign, the silver was the victim of over eight debasements. The coinage was suffering violent gyrations. The reform of the next reign would stabilize the coinage until the collapse of the Ottomans at the end of World War One.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 9.6 g, 0.465 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-560.
- 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, Istanbul: Mas Matbaacilik A.S., 2007.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, February 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
Link to: