Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
Summer 2022 Global Showcase Auction 22-26 Aug 2022
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EGYPT. Ottoman Empire. 20 Qirsh, AH 1293-W Year 29 (1903/4). Berlin Mint. Abdul Hamid II. PCGS PROOF-65.
KM-296; cf. Pere-989 (Year 20). Though bearing the mint signature of "Misr" (Cairo), this issue, in fact, was struck in Berlin, with the small W below the wreath indicating Emil Weigand, the designer at the mint. During this regnal year, minting for the silver coinage was in the process of being contracted through Heaton instead, with both mints producing during the changeover. Heaton is not known to have struck any proof issues for the 20 Qirsh denomination, with Berlin only known to have issued some in regnal year 17. As such, this lone exemplar from the transitional year may well be a unique issue with the intent of Berlin to save its contract and influence the government in Cairo to retain its minting capabilities rather than moving to Heaton. If that was indeed the goal, it did not work, as minting moved to the latter the following year. Nevertheless, the quality represented here on this INCREDIBLE RARITY and possibly UNIQUE proof striking should certainly have dazzled any government official. Undoubtedly, the collecting community will adore this monumental crown more so than did the officials in Cairo some 12 decades ago.
Estimate: $8000 - $12000
KM-296; cf. Pere-989 (Year 20). Though bearing the mint signature of "Misr" (Cairo), this issue, in fact, was struck in Berlin, with the small W below the wreath indicating Emil Weigand, the designer at the mint. During this regnal year, minting for the silver coinage was in the process of being contracted through Heaton instead, with both mints producing during the changeover. Heaton is not known to have struck any proof issues for the 20 Qirsh denomination, with Berlin only known to have issued some in regnal year 17. As such, this lone exemplar from the transitional year may well be a unique issue with the intent of Berlin to save its contract and influence the government in Cairo to retain its minting capabilities rather than moving to Heaton. If that was indeed the goal, it did not work, as minting moved to the latter the following year. Nevertheless, the quality represented here on this INCREDIBLE RARITY and possibly UNIQUE proof striking should certainly have dazzled any government official. Undoubtedly, the collecting community will adore this monumental crown more so than did the officials in Cairo some 12 decades ago.
Estimate: $8000 - $12000