Turkey AH 1223(3) 2-1/2 kurush
The first specimen was lot 696 in Stephen Album sale 37 (Santa Rosa, CA, June 2020), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "TURKEY: Mahmud II, 1808-1839, AR 2½ kurush, Kostantiniye, AH1223 year 3, bold strike, NGC graded AU58, S." This specimen was lot 1960 in Steve Album Auction 55 (Santa Rosa, CA, May 2026), where it sold for $312. The catalog description[2] noted, "TURKEY: Mahmud II, 1808-1839, AR 2-1/2 piastres (100 para), Kostantiniye, AH1223 year 5, third monetary standard; nice strike, XF-AU, ex Kenneth A. Bovenkamp Collection." This type was struck years 3-11 only and was worth 100 para. We can't explain why the weight reported for the first specimen doesn't match the specification given in the SCWC unless the coin is actually a five kuruş. The continuous debasement occurring during this reign meant that most coin types were shortlived and the distinctions between them often arbitrary.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 12.5-13.2 g, 0.730 fine silver, the first specimen 25.58 g, the second specimen 12.11 g.
Catalog reference: KM-563, UBK-70.02.
- 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.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 37, featuring the Gamal Amer Collection of Egyptian Coins and the Ahmed Sultan Collection of Ottoman Coins, Part II, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2020.
- [2]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 55, featuring Selections from the Swamperbob Gurney Collection of Cap & Ray 8 Reales, the Kenneth A. Bovenkamp Collection of Ottoman Coins and the 1914 Collection of World Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2026.
Link to: