Hello everyone, I have been a long-time researcher of Ottoman coinage from the reign of Sultan Selim I. However, I have never actively collected coins. My work has focused almost entirely on typology, legends, and designs, so I lack hands-on experience with issues such as surface characteristics and authenticity. For example, I would not be confident distinguishing a struck coin from a cast one using a loupe. I am currently conducting type research and had a question regarding the coin shown above. From what I can determine, this is a very rare piece, and the two coins illustrated here are the only examples I have been able to locate. They appear to be a double-die match (which is not unusual in my experience, as this Sultan only reigned for 8 years, and the above coin was likely minted in a 6 years period as the title Shah was likely used because he defeated the Safavids in 1514). The better-preserved specimen was sold by Gorny & Mosch and later by Stephen Album, where it was graded by NGC. The lower-grade example was sold by Stanley Gibbons Baldwins and, if I recall correctly, realized approximately £500. I believe the two coins appeared at auction within roughly five years of each other. The reverse type itself is known (reverse is the side with the knotted designs) but what makes these coins exceptional is the obverse, which I have only ever seen on these two examples. The higher-grade coin was also published in Atom Damalı’s important series on the Ottoman Empire, which is where I first encountered this type. What particularly caught my attention is an unusual surface texture on the reverse, located in the lower-right area. The texture appears somewhat rippled and is not present elsewhere on the coin. I have noticed several exact similarities in this textured area between the two specimens, although there are also clear differences. Because of these differences, I am inclined to rule out transfer-die hammered forgeries, as such pieces would be expected to match exactly. I would appreciate your opinions on whether this texture is consistent with a die-related issue or whether it might be cause for concern.
