Turkey AH1336(2) 20 kurush

Sincona sale 59, lot 2459

This specimen was lot 2459 in Sincona sale 59 (Zurich, October 2019), where it sold for 650 CHF (about US$787 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"OSMANISCHES REICH | Muhammad VI. 1336-1341 H./1918-1922 AD, 20 Kurush 1336 H./Jahr 2, Qustantînîya. Tughra über Regierungsjahr in zwölfbogiger Fassung, Münzstättenangabe und Datum des Regierungsanfangs in gleicher Einfassung. Sehr schön. (Turkey, Muhammed VI, AH 1336-1341, twenty kurush of AH 1336, year 2, Constantinople mint. Obverse: toughra over regnal year; reverse: mintmark and accession date in wreath. Very fine.)"

This specimen is from a series struck in Istanbul during the reign of Sultan Muhammed VI (r. 1918-23), the last Ottoman sultan. This denomination was introduced during the rule of Sultan Abdul Mejid (r. 1839-61). Ottoman coins were dated using regnal years; the reverse bears the date AH 1336 (= 1918 A.D.) while the obverse bears the regnal year 2 (= 1918 A.D.). The Hejira calendar uses a lunar year instead of a solar year, so its starting date moves from year to year. This type was issued AH 1336-37 (1917-18) and is the last of the denomination. At the end of World War One, the sultan was a puppet of Ataturk and his friends, soon to be deposed.

Recorded mintage: 1,530.

Specification: 24.06 g, .830 fine silver, 37 mm diameter, this specimen 23.90 g.

Catalog reference: Dav-407, KM 818. Ölcer 34.102. Pere 1074. Sultan coll. 798.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
• ^[1]Richter, Jurg, Sincona Auction 59: Gold and Silver Coins and Medals; Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2019.

Link to:

• AH 1336(1) 20 kurush
• AH 1336(1) 50 kurush
• AH 1336(2) 500 kurush
• AH 1336(3) 25 kurush
• AH 1336(4) 40 para
• Coins and currency dated 1918