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20 Francs - Ahmad II
| Issuer | Tunisia |
|---|---|
| Year | 1930-1934 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 20 g |
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| Obverse description | Central rectangular cartouche with rounded corners bearing multi-line Arabic inscription identifying the ruler and denomination, flanked on either side by a tall stylized wheat or palm frond motif in low relief. The inscription reads the name and title of Ahmad II Bey of Tunis, the denomination of 20 francs, and the Hijri date. The cartouche is enclosed within a double linear border, surrounded by a finely toothed or beaded outer rim that encircles the entire field. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | أحمد مدة باي تونس فرنك ٢٠ ١٣٤٩ سنة |
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| Additional information |
Ahmad II ibn Muhammad ruled as Bey of Tunis under the French Protectorate, and these silver 20-franc pieces were struck during a period when France was actively managing Tunisian monetary affairs through Paris. The .680 fineness is notably lower than the .835 standard France maintained for its own contemporary silver coinage — a deliberate distinction that kept Tunisian issues nominally separate from the metropolitan monetary system while still tying them to the franc zone.
Two Lecompte reference numbers — Lec#358 and Lec#362 — suggest distinct die varieties or edge treatments within the type, a detail worth investigating before attributing any individual piece.