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25 Centimes - Yusuf Essai, without a hole or 'Essai'
| Issuer | Morocco |
|---|---|
| Year | 1921 |
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| Composition | Copper-nickel |
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| Obverse description | Central field dominated by a large Star of David (hexagram) rendered in fine relief, set against an elaborate ground of interlacing arabesque and floral scrollwork contained within a circular border. The upper arc of the outer legend reads EMPIRE CHERIFIEN in raised Latin letters, while an Arabic inscription in Naskh script appears along the lower arc. The overall design reflects the decorative Islamic geometric tradition characteristic of Moroccan coinage of the early Protectorate era. No central hole is present, distinguishing this essai type from the circulation issue. |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | EMPIRE CHERIFIEN / الإمبراطورية الشريفية |
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| Additional information |
The 1921 Moroccan coinage program was developed under the French Protectorate administration, which had controlled Morocco since 1912. Most denominations in this series were struck with a central hole — a cost-saving measure common to French colonial issues of the period. This piece, lacking both the hole and the "Essai" countermark, occupies an ambiguous position: either a trial striking produced before the holed format was confirmed, or a rejected variant from the design approval process. Lecompte 199 is rarely encountered, and its production circumstances remain incompletely documented.