½ Qirat ND


Silver	1.4 g	-

Description

Issuer	Eyalet of Tunis (Tunisia)
Sultan	Selim II the Blond (1566-1574)
Type	Standard circulation coin
Years	1435-1574
Value	½ Qirat
Composition	Silver
Weight	1.4 g
Size	15.6 mm
Thickness	0.9 mm
Shape	Square (irregular)
Orientation	Medal alignment ↑↑
Demonetized	Yes
Updated	2024-10-08

References

Numista	N#135970
Rarity index	91%

Reverse

Script: Arabic

Lettering:
لا اله الا الله
الامر كله لله
لا قوة الا بالله

Translation:
There is no god except God
The whole commandment is unto God
There is no strength except in God

Edge

Plain

Comment

The coin was struck during the last part of the Hafsid rule of Tunisia area, before the Ottomans took over. It is not a Marinid coin. While assigned to the Hafsids, it may have been struck by local tribes in the area.

There are a number of varieties, with single lines and double lines separating the legend lines. It is scarce, but can occasionally be found on ebay. They usually weigh about 1.3 grams. The legends are identical to those of the Almohad / Muwahhid Dynasty in North Africa.

As this was struck before Tunisia was a country, it technically should be under the Hafsid Dynasty. However, it was centered in Tunis and using the country name of Tunisia would work.

Time frame is very difficult to determine. The legends and square style coin were started under the Muwahhids (1130-1269 A.D.) and continued by the Hafsids (1228-1574 A.D.). A good guess is that they were made during the last hundred plus years of Hafsid rule, around 1435-1574.

Interesting fact

The ½ Qirat coin from the Eyalet of Tunis (Tunisia) made of Silver weighing 1.4 g is interesting because it was used during the reign of the Ottoman Empire, specifically during the 16th century. The coin's design features the Ottoman Sultan's name and title, as well as the mint name and date. This coin was used for everyday transactions and was a significant part of the Tunisian economy at that time.