Yemen AH 1375 c/m 1 tallero KM-17
The Mutawakkilite Kingdom began forming in 1890 AD, but it was not until 1911 that the local ruler (Yahya bin Muhammad, who came to power in AH 1322 / 1904 AD) was recognized as both the secular and religious head by the occupying (but weakening) Ottoman forces. In 1919 AD, the Ottomans officially abandoned any attempt at a military or political presence in Yemen. The first local coinage to recognize independent Yemeni rule was struck in AH 1342 (1924 AD).
The new coinage was based on the standard of the Maria Teresa thaler (import of which was banned under the Ottomans, who wished to force Turkish coinage on the population). Thus the thaler was equal to one riyal, with fractions of 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10, 1/20, 1/40, and 1/80.
Shown is a countermarked Eritrean 1 tallero. It was lot 881 in a Cayon Subastas Auction on June 5, 2009, and sold for US$1276. The catalog description reads: "MONEDAS EXTRANJERAS YEMEN 1 riyal. 1375 Heg. K17. Reacuñación desplazada sobre un talero de Eritrea del 1918. Mbc. (Foreign Coins--Yemen. One riyal of AH 1375, counterstamped over an Eritrean tallero of 1918. Very fine.)"
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: KM Y-17.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Pridmore, Fred. "The Modern Coins of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of the Yemen". Seaby's Coin and Medal Bulletin, May 1962. pp 231-340.
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