Tunisia AH 1231 piastre
This specimen was lot 64 in Sincona sale 31 (Zürich, October 2016), where it sold for 180 CHF (about US$214 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "OTTOMAN TUNIS | Mahmud II (1223-1255ah/1808-1839ce) riyal 1231ah (1816ce) Bi R -xf." Tunisia, nominally subject to the Ottoman empire since the sixteenth century, survived on piracy. This eventually became unacceptable to the seafaring powers, who quashed the pirates in the 1820's. The ruling beys, deprived of revenue, attempted to reform the state but only succeeded in incurring a large foreign debt. Bankruptcy was declared in 1869 and was used in 1881 as the pretext for French occupation. This type was struck AH 1225-1234 in the name of Mahmud II in Constantinople. It is scarce in nice condition. Sixteen kharub made a piastre or riyal, the largest silver coin issued in Tunisia in the eighteenth century.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: billon, 16 g, this specimen 15.44 g.
Catalog reference: Fen 218, KM 82.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Jürg Richter and Ralph W. Miller, Tunisian Coins and Medals: The Miller Collection, Auction 31, Zürich: Sincona AG, 2016.
Link to: