Turkey AH1223(21) 1/2 hayriye altin
This specimen was lot 2313 in Sincona sale 59 (Zurich, October 2019), where it sold for 80 CHF (about US$97 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"OSMANISCHES REICH | Mahmûd II. 1223-1255 H./1808-1839 AD, 1/2 Altin (1/2 Hayrîya-Altin) 1223 H./Jahr 21, Qustantînîya (Konstantinopel/Istanbul). Tughra mit 'adlî in Kreis, darum alternierend Zweige und Ovale mit Titulatur, Rv. Mzst. und Jahr des Regierungsanfangs, oben Regierungsjahr, am Rand alternierend Zweige und Ovale mit Name und Titel. Vorzüglich. (Turkey, Mahmud II, 1808-39, half altin of AH 1223, year 21, Constantinople mint. Obverse: toughra with "'adlî" in a circle, with alternating dashes and ovals and title; reverse: mintmark and accession date and regnal year. Extremely fine.)"
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. This half hayriye altin was struck years 21-26.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 0.86 g, gold, this specimen 0.88 g.
Catalog reference: Fr-107, Artuk 1955 (year 25), Pere 747 (year 24), Ölçer 30-159, KM 637.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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.
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