Moneta's Temple and Gallery

Hejaz - 1 Qirsh or Piastre AH1334 (1916)

Moneta — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 12:21:49 -0800

by: Moneta

Description: Scarce; all of these first coins of Hejaz bear the accessional date of AH1334 for Al-Husain Ibn Ali.

Hejaz - 1/2 Qirsh or Piastre AH1334

Moneta — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 12:18:30 -0800

by: Moneta

Description: Scarce; all of these first coins of Hejaz bear the accessional date of AH1334 for Al-Husain Ibn Ali.

Hejaz - 1/4 Qirsh or Piastre 1916

Moneta — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 12:09:04 -0800

by: Moneta

Description: Looking at KM they show two very rare types of overdates, which there's a possibility this is one. The AH1334/5 usually has a tiny 'o' representing the '5'. This one is mis-shapen and up against the inner circle like KM indicates

Saudi Arabia - Guinea 1950

Moneta — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 16:10:48 -0700

by: Moneta

Description: A very handsome and well preserved example of this trade coinage. The story behind a group of ten of these is that they were given to a US doctor who treated the wife of a Saudi royal. This is one of those ten coins. These are the same weight and fineness of a British Sovereign (Pound).

Saudi Arabia 1 Riyal - 1977

Moneta — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 17:30:40 -0700

by: Moneta

Description: Rare trial version of the Saudi 100 Halala of AH 1397 (1977) - F.A.O. issue. According to the SCWC (KM) this trial issue was not supposed to be released but several hundred entered circulation. This is a top notch proof-like BU. This is a one-year, unofficially released, type and very scarce. Obverse/reverse are reversed in the photo.

Hejaz 20 Para C/M

Moneta — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:23:02 -0800

by: Moneta

Description: This 40 Para and the following 20 Para were issues of the Ottoman Empire which dissolved after WWI. Hejaz was a vilayet that was in revolt against Turkish control. Husain Ibn Ali, the Amir of Mecca wrested control of the Hejaz away from the Ottoman Turks in 1916 with the help of Lawrence of Arabia. By 1925, however, Abd Al-Aziz Bin Sa'ud, the uniter of Saudi Arabia had taken control of the area. By 1932/33 Saudi Arabia was united into a single kingdom. These coins of AH 1327 (1909 A.D.; both host and C/M dates#, were countermarked to obscure the signature #toughra) of the Ottoman Sultan Huhammed V, whom the rebels detested. The countermark on both coins says "al-Hejaz" in Arabic. The countermarks on these Para coins of the Ottoman Turks are probably the only legitimate ones available. Other countermarks on silver coins or other types of host coins are usually considered spurious, although they are actively collected.

Hejaz 40 Para C/S

Moneta — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:20:12 -0800

Saudi Arabia Riyal

Moneta — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 12:27:09 -0700

by: Moneta

Description: Silver Riyal of unified Saudi Arabia. In UNC; struck at 60 M. & in proof struck at a qty. of 20 M. I suspect this issue was instigated by ARAMCO in 1935 but I have no evidence yet (the issue of 1954 was by Mexico).

Saudi Arabia - ARAMCO 1 Pound

Moneta — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 11:38:23 -0700

by: Moneta

Description: Here's a very nice example of the Saudi Arabian listed U.S. Mint (Philly) issue for the concession payment by ARAMCO Oil Co. Minted in 1947 despite NGC listing a date of 1945 (as the 4 Pound was). Mintage figures from the mint indicate 121,364 but most were melted. While not counterfeited in near the quantity of the 4 Pound (see listing) ones that are fake may show a wire edge. The genuine small discs have a pebbling or dot effect within the closed letters of 'D and/or P'. There are no fine lines to indicate authenticity as there are on the 4 Pd. Fascinating issue - watch this space for links to my definitive article on these, arguably, U.S. trade coins. VIEW or DOWNLOAD: Here's a link to an article about these scarce and historical trade coin discs: USA Saudi Arabian Gold Discs - Boosel: /library/Saudi%20US%20Gold.pdf ALSO: an ANA "Numismatist" article from the Oct 2020 (P.67) about these and a counterfeit 4 Pound submitted for encapsulation at this: http://onlinedigitalpublishing.com/publication/frame.php?i=673359&p=&pn=&ver=html5 The original 'discovery' article from Boosel in the ANA's "The Numismatist" Jul. 1959, p. 805; here's the: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/527359?page=42 This information from Roma Numismatics (London): Saudi Arabia, time of Abd al-'Aziz ibn al-Sa'ud Bullion-issue AV 1 Pound. United States mint, Philadelphia, 1947. Eagle facing with wings spread, head to left, clutching branch and bundle of arrows, with coat-of-arms on breast; mint around; all within assayer-style central incuse medallion / Fineness and weight specifications in three lines. KM 35; Friedberg 191. 8.00g, 22mm, 12h. Struck in Philadelphia by the United States Mint, bullion-issue 1 Pounds such as the present piece saw limited circulation in Saudi Arabia in the late 1940's along with a larger 4 Pounds. An unusual issue, these bullion pieces were made by the US Government for use by the Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco). Aramco were required to pay $3 million in royalties each year to the Saudi Government in gold, though throughout the Second World War payment was accepted in US currency. At the end of the war the Saudi Government insisted the gold payments resumed, but the price of gold having risen dramatically Aramco were forced to ask the US Government for help who, faced with the prospect of reduced access to Middle Eastern oil, caused the minting of these rare bullion pieces in Philadelphia. Another article about these at COIN WEEK: https://coinweek.com/coins/unique-unusual/unusual-items-us-mint-gold-disks-made-for-oil-payments-to-saudi-arabia/ A NGC article on fake detection: https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/8859/

Saudi Arabia, ARAMCO 4 Pound

Moneta — Mon, 02 Jan 2006 19:02:19 -0800

by: Moneta

Description: Authentic 4 Pound Concession payment disc. These were minted at the Philadelphia mint in 1945-46 for the consortium of American oil companies (ARAMCO) earnestly drilling for oil in Saudi Arabia after WWII. Writers on these seem pieces to go to great lengths to disassociate this unusal 'bullion issue' from the USA. Moneta thinks it's actually a US Trade coin minted at a time when gold was officially taboo in the USA. 'Concession' payment is always as it is described. Presumably, the Arab sheiks wanted GOLD for their oil but had to be prevailed upon to understand the reality: there wasn't enough gold on the planet, at anywhere near a workable value, to pay for all of the oil we were about to remove from under them. They have accepted US Greenbacks ever since (and until recently all other counties had to pay in US Dollars as well, thus giving US dollars a preeminance in the world) but were given this 'concession' payment in gold. Ninety-one thousand of the large 4 pound pieces were struck, most were later re-melted. While the 1 pound (sovereign) piece saw more struck, today they are more scarce than the 4 pound. These were counterfeited! Authentic pieces can be distinguished by the presents of spider-web like filaments between the letters 'MIN' of U.S. MINT. This one has them - it was obtained from Steinberg's in 1978. The 1 pound in the Moneta Museum is in better condition, but is slabbed, so I'll see if I can get a decent photo through the plastic. This is a very fascinating 'coin' and as a representative piece for the history of US dependence (and foreign policy and relations) on oil - you will not find a better example. I suggest buying every authentic one you can find! Here's a link to an article about these scarce and historical trade coin discs: USA Saudi Arabian Gold Discs - Boosel: VIEW or DOWNLOAD: Here's a link to an article about these scarce and historical trade coin discs: USA Saudi Arabian Gold Discs - Boosel: /library/Saudi%20US%20Gold.pdf ALSO: an ANA "Numismatist" article from the Oct 2020 (P.67) about these and a counterfeit 4 Pound submitted for encapsulation at this: http://onlinedigitalpublishing.com/publication/frame.php?i=673359&p=&pn=&ver=html5 The original 'discovery' article from Boosel in the ANA's "The Numismatist" Jul. 1959, p. 805; here's the: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/527359?page=42 This information from Roma Numismatics (London): Saudi Arabia, time of Abd al-'Aziz ibn al-Sa'ud Bullion-issue AV 1 Pound. United States mint, Philadelphia, 1947. Eagle facing with wings spread, head to left, clutching branch and bundle of arrows, with coat-of-arms on breast; mint around; all within assayer-style central incuse medallion / Fineness and weight specifications in three lines. KM 35; Friedberg 191. 8.00g, 22mm, 12h. Struck in Philadelphia by the United States Mint, bullion-issue 1 Pounds such as the present piece saw limited circulation in Saudi Arabia in the late 1940's along with a larger 4 Pounds. An unusual issue, these bullion pieces were made by the US Government for use by the Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco). Aramco were required to pay $3 million in royalties each year to the Saudi Government in gold, though throughout the Second World War payment was accepted in US currency. At the end of the war the Saudi Government insisted the gold payments resumed, but the price of gold having risen dramatically Aramco were forced to ask the US Government for help who, faced with the prospect of reduced access to Middle Eastern oil, caused the minting of these rare bullion pieces in Philadelphia. Another article about these at COIN WEEK: https://coinweek.com/coins/unique-unusual/unusual-items-us-mint-gold-disks-made-for-oil-payments-to-saudi-arabia/ A NGC article on fake detection: https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/8859/