Yemen AH 1358 10 lira
The Mutawakkilite Kingdom began forming in 1890 AD, but it was not until 1911 that the local ruler (Yahya bin Muhammad, who came to power in AH 1322 / 1904 AD) was recognized as both the secular and religious head by the occupying (but weakening) Ottoman forces. In 1919 AD, the Ottomans officially abandoned any attempt at a military or political presence in Yemen. The first local coinage to recognize independent Yemeni rule was struck in AH 1342 (1924 AD).
The new coinage was based on the standard of the Maria Teresa thaler (import of which was banned under the Ottomans, who wished to force Turkish coinage on the population). Thus the thaler was equal to 1 riyal, with fractions of 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10, 1/20, 1/40, and 1/80. The fraction 1/40 riyal was known as 1 buqsha.
This specimen was lot 31318 in Heritage sale 3037 (New York, January 2015), where it sold for $21,150. The catalog description[1] noted, "Imam Yahya gold 2 Riyals (10 Lira) AH1358 (1939) MS64 NGC. A spectacular, one-year gold type featuring two crossed flags surrounded by beautiful, Arabic calligraphy. Rare, in every sense of the word, this specimen presents an exciting combination of technical quality and visual excellence. An exacting strike yields crisp devices that soar above wholly lustrous, golden surfaces and the fields are incredibly fresh for a coin of this age and size. With a reported mintage of only 4 pieces, this issue is virtually never encountered in the marketplace and there appears to be only two auction records denoting the sale of this coin within the past ten years. Quite simply, this may be a singular opportunity to own this extremely rare 2 Riyals."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 69.83 g, gold.
Catalog reference: KM-YN10, Fr-7a.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Pridmore, Fred. "The Modern Coins of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of the Yemen", Seaby's Coin and Medal Bulletin, May 1962. pp 231-340.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage Signature Auction 3037, featuring the Empire, the Santa Catarina, the Law and the Santa Maria Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2014.
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