Egypt AH 1293(22) qirsh

from the Ma’adi Collection

from the Ma’adi Collection

The coin shown is a one qirsh, composition copper-nickel, from the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II. The obverse bears the toughra, or signature, of the sultan, with the denomination written below. A flower design is to the right of the toughra. The reverse carries the year of mintage (year 22 of reign) followed by the script 'minted in Misr' (Egypt). The year of accession (1293) is written below, and all the foregoing is enclosed by a ring of stars. The date of the coin translates to 1896 AD. Uslu^[1] lists this issue as very rare.

This denomination represents a member of a coinage reform started in 1884 AD. Previous to that date, coins with a value less than one qirsh were given in the unit 'para'. Though fractional qirshes were treated differently than previous years, qirshes and their multiples resembled pre-reform designs and compositions. The difference was the introduction of copper-nickel qirshes in certain years. This suite of denominations was continued until the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, and subsequent loss of influence in Egypt, in 1914 AD.

Recorded mintage: 200,000.

Specifications: copper-nickel.

Catalog reference: KM 299.

Sources:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Uslu, Kaan, Beyazit, M. Fatih, and Kara, Tuncay, Ottoman Empire Coins, Istanbul: Mas Matbaacilik A.S., 2007.

Link to:

• Egypt AH 1293(17)-W qirsh
• AH 1293(27) copper-nickel qirsh
• Egypt AH 1293(22)-W 5 qirsh
• Egypt AH 1293(22)-W 10 qirsh
• Egypt AH 1293(22-W) 20 qirsh
• Coins and currency dated 1896
• return to coins of Egypt