Turkey AH 1203(6) zeri mahbub

Sincona sale 59, lot 2298

This specimen was lot 2298 in Sincona sale 59 (Zurich, October 2019), where it sold for 190 CHF (about US$230 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 6, Islâmbûl (Istanbul). Tughra über Segensformel, Mzst. und Jahr des Regierungsanfangs, Rv. Titel, Regierungsjahr am Ende der dritten Zeile. Gutes vorzüglich. (Turkey, Selim III, 1789-1807, zeri mahbub of AH 1203, year 6, Istanbul mint. obverse: Tughra with blessing, mintmark and accession date; Reverse: Title and regnal date at the end of the third line. Good extremely fine.)"

This type was struck years 1-9. 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 kurush.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 2.4 g, gold, 22-23 mm diameter, this specimen 2.38 g.

Catalog reference: Artuk 1899 (year 4), Pere 697 (year 8), KM 522.

Source:

• 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, Jurg, Sincona Auction 59: Gold and Silver Coins and Medals; Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2019.

Link to:

• AH 1203(1) 2 piastres
• AH 1203(2) altin
• AH 1203(5) para
• AH 1203(6) 5 para
• AH 1203(6) kurush
• AH 1203(7) 2 kurush
• AH 1203(7) 100 para = 2½ kurush = yuzluk
• AH 1203(8) zeri mahbub
• AH 1203(15) zeri mahbub
• Coins and currency dated 1793