Turkey AH 1223(14) 2 kurush
This specimen was lot 2393 in Stephen Album sale 39 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2021), where it sold for $84. The catalog description[1] noted, "TURKEY: Mahmud II, 1808-1839, AR piastre, Kostantiniye, AH 1223 year 14, nice strike, VF-EF." This two kurush was part of the fourth issue of silver during this reign. These coins are dated years 14-15. The denomination is only theoretical and this coin may actually be a one piastre as catalogued by the auctioneers. The coinage was suffering violent gyrations in value and two kurush were issued in the fourth and fifth issues only. 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: 0.465 fine silver, 11.5-13.4 g, this specimen 12.31 g.
Catalog reference: KM-570.
- 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]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 39, featuring the John Sylvester, Jr., Collection of Annamese Medals and Orders, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2020.
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