1 Qirsh / Piastre Essai

Syria's first coinage under the French Mandate was issued following the League of Nations formally awarding France the mandate over Syria and Lebanon in 1923. The 1925 essai pieces were pattern strikes produced in Paris to test designs and alloys before committed production — France applied the same methodical approval process to its mandate territories as it did to metropolitan coinage. The nickel brass composition of this particular essai was ultimately not adopted for the circulating issue.