10 Dinars 1987 Coup d'état 18th Anniversary, Arabic legend

Tunisia's "Coup d'état" commemoratives occupy an unusual niche in modern numismatics — the state openly celebrating, in gold, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's removal of Habib Bourguiba on November 7, 1987. Bourguiba, founding father of independent Tunisia and president for over three decades, was declared medically unfit for office in a bloodless move orchestrated by his own prime minister. The anniversary series ran for years, each installment a piece of official mythology rendered in precious metal.

By 2005, Ben Ali was deep into his authoritarian consolidation. Six years later his government collapsed entirely during the Arab Spring.