Ajman was the smallest and least financially solvent of the Trucial States, and its coin issues of the late 1960s were produced almost entirely for the collector and bullion market rather than for any practical circulation. The essai designation here indicates a trial or pattern striking, typically produced in limited quantities for presentation or approval purposes. Whether any formal monetary authority ever reviewed this particular piece is doubtful — Ajman's numismatic program of this period was largely driven by outside promoters exploiting the emirate's nominal issuing rights ahead of the 1971 federation.
The "2 dates" designation refers to the dual Gregorian and Hijri dating carried on the coin, a common feature of Gulf issues from this transitional period.
Ajman was the smallest and least financially solvent of the Trucial States, and its coin issues of the late 1960s were produced almost entirely for the collector and bullion market rather than for any practical circulation. The essai designation here indicates a trial or pattern striking, typically produced in limited quantities for presentation or approval purposes. Whether any formal monetary authority ever reviewed this particular piece is doubtful — Ajman's numismatic program of this period was largely driven by outside promoters exploiting the emirate's nominal issuing rights ahead of the 1971 federation.
The "2 dates" designation refers to the dual Gregorian and Hijri dating carried on the coin, a common feature of Gulf issues from this transitional period.