Tunisia 1904-A 20 francs

Sincona sale 87, lot 3227

This specimen was lot 3227 in Sincona sale 87 (Zurich, October 2023), where it sold for 380 CHF (about US$512 including buyer's fees). The catalog description^[1] noted,

"TUNESIEN, Unter Frankreich. Muhammad al-Hadi Bey, 1320-1324 AH (1902-1906). 20 Francs 1322 AH (1904 AD), Paris. Fast vorzüglich. (Tunisia, French protectorate, Muhammad al-Hadi Bey, 1902-06, twenty francs of AH 1322/1904, Paris mint. About extremely fine.)"

This type was struck 1903-06 by the French in the name of Muhammed Al-Hadi Bey, nominal ruler of Tunisia. Gold twenty francs were struck to the standard of the Franc Germinal until 1928, long after metropolitan France had abandoned it. The 1892-A is the most common date. This date also comes with Hegira date AH 1321.

Recorded mintage: 600,000 including AH 1321.

Specification: 6.45 g, 0.900 fine gold, this specimen 6.45 g.

Catalog reference: Slg. Miller 217, KM 234, Fr-12.

Source:

• 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 87, World Coins and Medals, Zurich: SINCONA AG, 2023.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.

Link to:

• AH 1321/1903-A 20 francs
• AH 1322/1904-A 5 centimes
• AH 1322/1904-A 10 centimes
• AH 1322/1904-A 2 francs
• AH 1328/1910-A 20 francs
• Coins and currency dated 1904