EGYPT: Abdul Hamid II, 1876-1909, AR 20 qirsh, AH1293-W year 29, KM-296, struck from dies produced at the Berlin mint, PCGS graded Proof 65. The initial W stands for the designer Emil Weigand at the Berlin Mint. During the regnal year 29 (=1903/04) the Cairo government switched from the Berlin mint to the Heaton Mint in Birmingham, indicated by the letter H instead of W. All the silver coins (1, 2, 5, 10, 20 qirsh) were struck at both mints in the regnal year 29. Proof silver coins from Berlin are of the highest rarity, reported by both KM and UBK as confirmed only for the regnal year 17, of which just one example is recorded on CoinArchives (sold in January 2022). There are no proof 20 qirsh coins struck at Heaton, only some extremely rare specimen strike examples, of which one was sold at the Goldberg Auction 15, lot 258, in June 2002, incorrectly described as "brilliant proof", but is in fact the well-attested specimen strike. The Berlin year 29 proof 20 qirsh appears to be unique, and may have been produced for the purpose of promoting the quality of the Berlin mint as opposed to Heaton. We do not know why Egypt switched from the Berlin to the Heaton mint, though there must be some intriguing administrative or political background behind this change.
Estimate: $6000-8000