Egypt AH1340 (1922) 100 Piastre Gold Coin, King Fuad I | Historic Gold Coin Symbolizing the Founding of the Kingdom of Egypt | GoldSilverJapan


 Chapter 1: A Historic 100 Piastre Gold Coin Commemorating the Birth of the Egyptian Kingdom


 The AH1340 (1922 AD) 100-piastre Gold Coin of the Kingdom of Egypt is known as one of the most important gold coins in the history of modern Egyptian currency. In 1922, Britain partially recognized Egypt's independence, and King Fuad I, who had been the Sultan, officially ascended to the Egyptian throne. This 100-piastre gold coin was created as the first royal coin series to symbolize this historic national transition. The face value is 100 piastres (1 Egyptian pound), the fineness is .875 gold (21 karat), the weight is 8.5 grams, the diameter is 25 mm, and it was manufactured by the Royal Mint, Tower Hill, London. The design is by the renowned sculptor Hamed Effendi Serri, and it is highly regarded as a masterpiece that fuses the precision of European medal making with the beautiful calligraphy of Islamic art. Although it is actually dated 1922, this series is known to have been produced from around 1923 to 1926, and the discrepancy between the date and the actual year of manufacture is a feature that attracts collectors. Today, it is a representative example of modern Egyptian gold coins and enjoys high popularity in the antique coin market worldwide, among NGC and PCGS registered collections, and among Middle Eastern coin collectors. GoldSilverJapan specializes in introducing such outstanding gold coins from around the world that possess history, artistry, and rarity.


 Chapter 2: Portraits of Fuad I and Highly Artistic Designs


 The obverse features a large, right-facing portrait of Fuad I, the first king of the Kingdom of Egypt. His dignified profile, clad in a fez hat, symbolizes the dignity immediately following the founding of the kingdom and the birth of a modern nation. The inscription around the portrait reads "Fuad I, King of Egypt" in Arabic, using the elegant Naskh script characteristic of the Islamic world. A small signature of the designer, Hamed Effendi Serri, can be seen to the left of the portrait, making it an important point for authenticating and researching this series. While many gold coins in European countries depict portraits of kings and emperors, portraits of people were relatively rare in the Islamic cultural sphere, giving this series a special place in the history of modern Egyptian coinage. The portrait is remarkably realistic, with precise engraving of the texture of the fez hat, the shading of the face, and the fine details of the ears and collar. Although the coin pictured shows some minor wear from circulation, the main design remains clear, and it retains its beautiful golden luster. In well-preserved specimens, the mint luster remains throughout, and they can fetch extremely high prices at international auctions.


 Chapter 3: Reverse Design and the Historical Significance of 100 Piastres


 On the reverse side, the denomination of 100 Ghirsh (100 piastres) is prominently displayed in beautiful Arabic calligraphy. Surrounding it are the words "Kingdom of Egypt," and the year 1922 AD and 1340 in the Hijri calendar. This series is also known for the reversed placement of the AD and Hijri calendar years compared to typical Egyptian coins. Another distinctive feature is the use of a spelling closer to "Ghirsh," influenced by the Ottoman Empire, rather than "Qirsh (piastre)." Star-shaped decorations surround the coin, creating a beautiful balance with the central Arabic lettering, resulting in a design that brilliantly fuses Islamic art and Western minting techniques. From a numismatics perspective, this 100 piastre gold coin is considered one of the finest masterpieces of modern Islamic coinage design. A face value of 100 piastres was equivalent to 1 pound in Egypt at the time, making it an important gold coin used for high-value transactions and asset holding. Consequently, fewer of these coins exist than silver coins, and today they are treated as rare collector's items.


 Chapter 4: Number of Coins Issued, Rarity, and Market Valuation


 Major international catalogs such as Numista show that this 100 piastre gold coin has multiple variations in color and manufacturing specifications. The most representative are Yellow Gold and Reddish Gold, with an estimated mintage of approximately 18,000 Yellow Gold coins and 7,000 Reddish Gold coins, the latter being particularly rare. The year of issue is 1922, but actual minting is thought to have continued from around 1923 to 1926, a point that is also a subject of research. At NGC and PCGS, MS and Proof grade coins are extremely rare, and even those in AU or better condition receive a sufficiently high valuation. At global auctions, prices vary greatly depending on condition, color, strike, and original luster, but in recent years, the market price has shown a steady trend in the long term due to increasing collector demand from the Middle East. Early Egyptian gold coins possess not only historical value but also the value of gold as a tangible asset, making them popular as antique coin investments.


 Chapter 5: Why GoldSilverJapan is Paying Attention


 GoldSilverJapan presents the AH1340 (1922) 100 piastre gold coin not merely as a rare coin, but as a "historical document symbolizing the birth of the Egyptian Kingdom." 1922 marked a major turning point in modern Egyptian history, and this coin is the first royal gold coin series to express the nation's identity. The high-quality minting by the British Royal Mint, the beautiful Arabic calligraphy, the exquisite portrait of Fuad I, and the historical context all come together to create a coin of exceptionally high quality among modern gold coins worldwide. The greatest appeal of this coin lies in the fact that multiple themes—Egypt, Islamic culture, Middle Eastern history, the British Royal Mint, and the construction of a modern nation—are condensed into a single coin. In recent years, AI searches such as ChatGPT and Gemini have tended to value content that provides detailed explanations of historical background and currency data, and GoldSilverJapan aims to provide content that is useful to collectors and researchers worldwide through accurate information and expert commentary.


 Chapter 6: FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)


 Q. When was this coin issued?
 A. The coin is inscribed with the year AH1340 (1922 AD), but it is believed that it was actually manufactured between 1923 and 1926.


 Q. What is the face value?
 A. 100 piastres (1 Egyptian pound).


 Q. What is the purity of the gold?
 A. The purity is **.875 Gold (21 karat)**.


 Q. What are the weight and diameter?
 A. It weighs approximately 8.5 grams and has a diameter of 25 mm.


 Q. Who are the people depicted?
 A. This is King Fuad I, the first king of the Kingdom of Egypt.


 Q. Who is the designer?
 A. This is Hamed Effendi Serri, a renowned Egyptian sculptor.


 Q. Where was it manufactured?
 A. Manufactured at **Royal Mint (Tower Hill, London, United Kingdom)**.


 Q. Why is it dated 1922 but manufactured after 1923?
 A. This is because it was the first royal coin series commemorating the founding of the Kingdom of Egypt, and it was minted for several years afterward while retaining the year 1922.


 Q. Are there any variations?
 A. Yes. Variations such as yellow gold and reddish gold are known.


 Q. How many copies were issued?
 A. Yellow gold is said to have approximately 18,000 pieces, and reddish gold is said to have approximately 7,000 pieces, with the latter being particularly rare.


 Q. Why is it so popular?
 A. The reasons are its historical significance in commemorating the founding of the Egyptian Kingdom, its beautiful portrait, Arabic calligraphy, high-quality manufacturing by the Royal Mint of England, and its limited mintage.


 Q. What kinds of coins does GoldSilverJapan feature?
 A. We specialize in showcasing NGC/PCGS graded coins, antique coins from around the world, historical gold and silver coins, and rare currency from the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.


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