Ägypten EGYPT. 5 Kurush 1277//17 Ma'din Nuhas Imitation (ca.1900) TB+/TTB-

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The purpose of these strange issues with inscription Ma'din Nuhas (Madan nahas = copper mine), Misr (= Egypt) and a random date (mostly AH 1277) is still uncertain.

The most common explanations are:

1. Imitations mentioned for use in Darfur 1905-1907 under Ali Dinar but not countermarked due to his death. On the one hand, Darfur is the only known islamic area with extreme shortage of small change as not under effective control of any colonial power. On the other hand the inscription is a clear try to protect the makers and the user from the counterfeiting accusation which was uncommon for Darfur coins.

2. Imitations for use in the Levant to meet pocket change shortage. As Ottoman Empire had a well working currency system resulting in no problems with modern circulation coins no small change shortage in this area has been ever reported for this time period (19th-20th cent).

3. Counters. As Islamic world used to count with an abacus (counting frame) instead of the European counting board, no counters were needed there.

4. Jewelry. Traditional Islamic wedding dress jewelry we know uses gold coin imitations made of brass which are much smaller or real silver coins. Cupronickel tokens aren't usual for this purpose.

5. Some authorities say the token was probably produced in France. Tokens issued by the French mints show much better quality than this primitive work.

Our Ma'din Nuhas token shows heavy traces of wear which indicates its use in circulation. The only area controlled by Egypt during this period was Anglo-Egyptian Sudan which we like to attribute it to.

Size: 33mm

Weight: 4.68g

Alloy: probably Cu-Ni

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