I came back from an antique shop at Rochefort-en-Terre today and I picked up this Ottoman coin. Pierced sadly but otherwise quite readable. I sadly can't really seem to find it among the coins catalogued on the site.
I'm pretty certain it's of the Ottoman Empire owing to the Tughra symbol. I think it's silver too. The only other thing I can say is that it's 20mm wide and dates possibly to 1255 if my Arabic numeric knowledge is true. But yeah feel free to correct me and if anyone can say exactly what it is and where it's from, I'd really appreciate it!
I believe it may be a 20 para from year 1255 as you said ottoman empire, likely Egypt. I'm afraid I'm not sure on much else, might be worth trying to create a page if you can't find it and the referees will help you from there :)
1255 should be Abdul Mejid, the RY is not visible, but the thougra doesn't match, also the mint is not Constantinople in the reverse and looks not like Egypt either.
It is something very unique or, what I suppose, a fantasy piece (and there are tons of that).
I don't recognize the tughra or the mint. it's not Egypt.
Do you think it is silver?
I'm sadly no metal expert. But from the sounds, I'm quite sure it's silver. I sadly can't read Arabic at all, and the translating I've tried has been pretty unreliable. The only thing I did think could be a lead is that it might be minted in Algeria. But I can't say it's true since it was Lens that picked this up.
1255 should be Abdul Mejid, the RY is not visible, but the thougra doesn't match, also the mint is not Constantinople in the reverse and looks not like Egypt either.
It is something very unique or, what I suppose, a fantasy piece (and there are tons of that).
Fantasy piece you say? That may certainly be possible yeah. That writing next to the Thougra doesn't look like anything I've ever seen either. I'll maybe DM the referee for Ottoman coins and see what they say.
Similarly, the mint name contains a character similar to one in the name of Tarabalus -
But not really. And no coins were minted there in 1255.
Krause lists no less than 25 Ottoman empire mints in the 19th century, this is the only one that looks even close.
All indications are for a contemporary counterfeit, with deliberately blundered legends.
Counterfeit coining was a cottage industry throughout the empire.
Ohhh! A counterfeit you say? That might make a lot of sense. Cause the antique shop I found it in had 4 or 5 more of the exact same coin. All with the same years, inscriptions and all pierced too.
I do not think that is a conterfeit of a non-existant coin, might be just a clothes jewelry, also called “penez”, exonumia that resembles ottoman coins.
there are few on Numista but there are plenty around
Egyptian token, from the word al-Sagha ( الصاغة ), which should be either a locale in Egypt or the owner's name. The reverse is pseudo-toughra, with a symbol "ali" (copying "'adli" on the late coins of Mahmud II from both Egypt & Turkey, with the date AH1255 and regnal year either 25 or 35, both of which are too late for normal coins dated AH1255 of Abdul Mejid). The obverse has the issuer's name Shirkat al-Wadi ( شركة الوادى ), which means "River Company". Probable produced in the very late 19th or early 20th century.
Pierre has a nice piece of history. Thanks ! Stef
Referee: Albanian cities, Khanate of Crimea, Croatian cities, Bavaria-Ingolstadt, Bavaria-Landshut, Duchy of Bavaria, Electorate of Bavaria, Kingdom
Melius est esse unum numero in villa, quam numerus duo in metropoli.
9:25 STEFANUS
Egyptian token, from the word al-Sagha ( الصاغة ), which should be either a locale in Egypt or the owner's name. The reverse is pseudo-toughra, with a symbol "ali" (copying "'adli" on the late coins of Mahmud II from both Egypt & Turkey, with the date AH1255 and regnal year either 25 or 35, both of which are too late for normal coins dated AH1255 of Abdul Mejid). The obverse has the issuer's name Shirkat al-Wadi ( شركة الوادى ), which means "River Company". Probable produced in the very late 19th or early 20th century.
Pierre has a nice piece of history. Thanks ! Stef
Best information ever, thank you Sstefanov for sharing your knowledge
Egyptian token, from the word al-Sagha ( الصاغة ), which should be either a locale in Egypt or the owner's name. The reverse is pseudo-toughra, with a symbol "ali" (copying "'adli" on the late coins of Mahmud II from both Egypt & Turkey, with the date AH1255 and regnal year either 25 or 35, both of which are too late for normal coins dated AH1255 of Abdul Mejid). The obverse has the issuer's name Shirkat al-Wadi ( شركة الوادى ), which means "River Company". Probable produced in the very late 19th or early 20th century.
Pierre has a nice piece of history. Thanks ! Stef
Best information ever, thank you Sstefanov for sharing your knowledge
Yeah he's been amazing at getting information on this token. And this has been a really great conversation piece. Thank you all for your help! :D
