Catalog - SINCONA Auction 31

This coin is the first issue to give witness to the presence of the French in Tunisia. The French government set the official exchange rate as noted on the coin itself. A few years later, the franc along with its corresponding decimal system would completely replace the riyal. Cf. Fenina, pages 267-269.
Beginning with the year 1298ah (1881ce), during the regency of Muhammed al-Sadiq Bey, the name of the Ottoman Sultan no longer appears on Tunisian coins. Henceforth, only the name of the reigning Bey is to be read on the obverse. The French Protectorate was founded that same year although decimal coinage was not introduced until 1308ah (1891ce).

Ex SBV (Frankfurt) 144:2964
Beginning with the year 1298ah (1881ce), during the regency of Muhammed al-Sadiq Bey, the name of the Ottoman Sultan no longer appears on Tunisian coins. Henceforth, only the name of the reigning Bey is to be read on the obverse. The French Protectorate was founded that same year although decimal coinage was not introduced until 1308ah (1891ce).

For the first time, the mint mark of the Monnaie de Paris a cornucopia now appears on Tunisian coinage. Moreover, one also finds the signature of the chief engraver at the Paris Mint from the period, Jean Lagrange (1837-1896ce), who left his privy mark in the form of a so-called fasces (faisceau de licteur). Such markings do not become standard, however, until the decimal coin system was definitively introduced in the colony later that same year.
Beginning with the year 1298ah (1881ce), during the regency of Muhammed al-Sadiq Bey, the name of the Ottoman Sultan no longer appears on Tunisian coins. Henceforth, only the name of the reigning Bey is to be read on the obverse. The French Protectorate was founded that same year although decimal coinage was not introduced until 1308ah (1891ce).

Beginning with the year 1298ah (1881ce), during the regency of Muhammed al-Sadiq Bey, the name of the Ottoman Sultan no longer appears on Tunisian coins. Henceforth, only the name of the reigning Bey is to be read on the obverse. The French Protectorate was founded that same year although decimal coinage was not introduced until 1308ah (1891ce).

Beginning with the year 1298ah (1881ce), during the regency of Muhammed al-Sadiq Bey, the name of the Ottoman Sultan no longer appears on Tunisian coins. Henceforth, only the name of the reigning Bey is to be read on the obverse. The French Protectorate was founded that same year although decimal coinage was not introduced until 1308ah (1891ce).

Beginning with the year 1298ah (1881ce), during the regency of Muhammed al-Sadiq Bey, the name of the Ottoman Sultan no longer appears on Tunisian coins. Henceforth, only the name of the reigning Bey is to be read on the obverse. The French Protectorate was founded that same year although decimal coinage was not introduced until 1308ah (1891ce).

Beginning with the year 1298ah (1881ce), during the regency of Muhammed al-Sadiq Bey, the name of the Ottoman Sultan no longer appears on Tunisian coins. Henceforth, only the name of the reigning Bey is to be read on the obverse. The French Protectorate was founded that same year although decimal coinage was not introduced until 1308ah (1891ce).

Beginning with the year 1298ah (1881ce), during the regency of Muhammed al-Sadiq Bey, the name of the Ottoman Sultan no longer appears on Tunisian coins. Henceforth, only the name of the reigning Bey is to be read on the obverse. The French Protectorate was founded that same year although decimal coinage was not introduced until 1308ah (1891ce).

Beginning with the year 1298ah (1881ce), during the regency of Muhammed al-Sadiq Bey, the name of the Ottoman Sultan no longer appears on Tunisian coins. Henceforth, only the name of the reigning Bey is to be read on the obverse. The French Protectorate was founded that same year although decimal coinage was not introduced until 1308ah (1891ce).

Beginning with the year 1298ah (1881ce), during the regency of Muhammed al-Sadiq Bey, the name of the Ottoman Sultan no longer appears on Tunisian coins. Henceforth, only the name of the reigning Bey is to be read on the obverse. The French Protectorate was founded that same year although decimal coinage was not introduced until 1308ah (1891ce).

Beginning with the year 1298ah (1881ce), during the regency of Muhammed al-Sadiq Bey, the name of the Ottoman Sultan no longer appears on Tunisian coins. Henceforth, only the name of the reigning Bey is to be read on the obverse. The French Protectorate was founded that same year although decimal coinage was not introduced until 1308ah (1891ce).

Beginning with the year 1298ah (1881ce), during the regency of Muhammed al-Sadiq Bey, the name of the Ottoman Sultan no longer appears on Tunisian coins. Henceforth, only the name of the reigning Bey is to be read on the obverse. The French Protectorate was founded that same year although decimal coinage was not introduced until 1308ah (1891ce).

Beginning with the year 1298ah (1881ce), during the regency of Muhammed al-Sadiq Bey, the name of the Ottoman Sultan no longer appears on Tunisian coins. Henceforth, only the name of the reigning Bey is to be read on the obverse. The French Protectorate was founded that same year although decimal coinage was not introduced until 1308ah (1891ce).

Beginning with the year 1298ah (1881ce), during the regency of Muhammed al-Sadiq Bey, the name of the Ottoman Sultan no longer appears on Tunisian coins. Henceforth, only the name of the reigning Bey is to be read on the obverse. The French Protectorate was founded that same year although decimal coinage was not introduced until 1308ah (1891ce).

Beginning with the year 1298ah (1881ce), during the regency of Muhammed al-Sadiq Bey, the name of the Ottoman Sultan no longer appears on Tunisian coins. Henceforth, only the name of the reigning Bey is to be read on the obverse. The French Protectorate was founded that same year although decimal coinage was not introduced until 1308ah (1891ce).

Beginning with the year 1298ah (1881ce), during the regency of Muhammed al-Sadiq Bey, the name of the Ottoman Sultan no longer appears on Tunisian coins. Henceforth, only the name of the reigning Bey is to be read on the obverse. The French Protectorate was founded that same year although decimal coinage was not introduced until 1308ah (1891ce).

Who would ever want to counterfeit a Tunisian coin?! Most of the coins in these lots date from the definitive arrival of the French in Tunisia in the year 1881ce (1298ah). Others had already been produced around the time when the French invaded the Barbary Coast in 1830ce. To be sure, these contemporary forgeries are a most interesting aspect of Tunisias numismatic heritage and are undoubtedly all very rare.

Who would ever want to counterfeit a Tunisian coin?! Most of the coins in these lots date from the definitive arrival of the French in Tunisia in the year 1881ce (1298ah). Others had already been produced around the time when the French invaded the Barbary Coast in 1830ce. To be sure, these contemporary forgeries are a most interesting aspect of Tunisias numismatic heritage and are undoubtedly all very rare.

Who would ever want to counterfeit a Tunisian coin?! Most of the coins in these lots date from the definitive arrival of the French in Tunisia in the year 1881ce (1298ah). Others had already been produced around the time when the French invaded the Barbary Coast in 1830ce. To be sure, these contemporary forgeries are a most interesting aspect of Tunisias numismatic heritage and are undoubtedly all very rare.