Baldwin & Sons
Islamic Coin Auction 27 10 December 2014
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
ISLAMIC COMMEMORATIVE MEDALS, EGYPT, Joseph Cattaui Pacha (1861-1942), founder of the National Bank of Egypt, uniface cast Bronze Maquette for a Medal, 1927, by S E Vernier, bust right wearing fez, JOSEPH CATTAUI PACHA, 180mm. A handsome piece, much as made, extremely rare, possibly unique.
Joseph Aslan Cattaui Pacha came from a Jewish family in Egypt, the grandson of Yacoub Cattaui Bey (1801-1883), a banker and President of the Jewish community in Cairo. His uncle Joseph Aslan, Moses Cattaui Pasha (1849-1924), continued in this post and was chairman of the Austro-Hungarian community. His father Joseph Aslan, Aslan bey Cattaui Yakub (1824-1883), was mostly engaged in the development of the sugar industry in Egypt. Joseph Cattaui Pacha was politically minded, fighting to make Egypt independent of England and the Ottoman Empire (though increasingly pro German). In 1914 he was elected to the first "representative assembly" for the nationalist opposition. After the War his sympathies with the Wafd (Delegation), formed by Saad Zaghoul, made him pro-independence whilst continuing his opposition to the British. In 1920 and 1921 he represented the Wafd in talks in London with the then Colonial Secretary, Winston Churchill. In 1922, when Fuad became King of Egypt, he contributed to the writing of a modern constitution, urging the adoption of universal suffrage. He was elected MP for the constituency of Kom Ombo and joined the government as Minister of Finance in 1924 and then Communications. In 1927 he was appointed a senator, a position he held until his death and the event for which this medal was probably intended. The cataloguers have been unable to establish whether a finished medal was ever produced.
illustrated on the back cover.
Estimate: £700-900
Joseph Aslan Cattaui Pacha came from a Jewish family in Egypt, the grandson of Yacoub Cattaui Bey (1801-1883), a banker and President of the Jewish community in Cairo. His uncle Joseph Aslan, Moses Cattaui Pasha (1849-1924), continued in this post and was chairman of the Austro-Hungarian community. His father Joseph Aslan, Aslan bey Cattaui Yakub (1824-1883), was mostly engaged in the development of the sugar industry in Egypt. Joseph Cattaui Pacha was politically minded, fighting to make Egypt independent of England and the Ottoman Empire (though increasingly pro German). In 1914 he was elected to the first "representative assembly" for the nationalist opposition. After the War his sympathies with the Wafd (Delegation), formed by Saad Zaghoul, made him pro-independence whilst continuing his opposition to the British. In 1920 and 1921 he represented the Wafd in talks in London with the then Colonial Secretary, Winston Churchill. In 1922, when Fuad became King of Egypt, he contributed to the writing of a modern constitution, urging the adoption of universal suffrage. He was elected MP for the constituency of Kom Ombo and joined the government as Minister of Finance in 1924 and then Communications. In 1927 he was appointed a senator, a position he held until his death and the event for which this medal was probably intended. The cataloguers have been unable to establish whether a finished medal was ever produced.
illustrated on the back cover.
Estimate: £700-900