Krause has the mintage listed for both the 1/2 pound and Pound, but nothing for the 5 Pound (at least in the edition I am using). I'm guessing it is between 3,000 and 5,000 with the 1957 being slightly lower than the 1955 just like the 1 Pound coin in gold. I'm not aware of any modern catalog of Egyptian coins, and Friedberg doesn't list a mintage either. Thanks for any information you might be able to provide(!)
This MA-Shops listing claims a mintage of 1,500 for the 5 pound. But this page claims a mintage of 1,000.
What does the reverse look like? Krause has a silver 5 pound 1994 with that the same design sans the script. The slab label looks kind of plain but What do I know? Also no photos in the PCGS to compare. The slab doesnt say G or S ...
Well that's interesting, I wonder if they both used the SWAG method (Scientific Wild A** Guess). The commemorative Aswan Dam coins had mintages of 5,000 for the 1960 5 Pound (same weight as the 1957) -- unlisted mintage for the lighter 1964 5 Pound (I believe it is much higher mintage than the 1960 issue based on availability) and only 2,000 coins for the 1964 10 Pound which weighs in at a colossal 1.4629 AGW. Jumping to 1970, the Nasser 5 Pound is listed as 3,000 mintage. There are others in Krause missing the mintage including the 1938 Farouk 500 Piastres, which tends to be much more expensive than the Fuad coins that came earlier, including the 1932 500P that Krause claims only 300 were struck, with an additional 400 struck in 1929. Based just on auction appearances, I would say it is far more scarce than the Farouk issue, but usually hammers for less which doesn't make any sense aside from the 1938 issues tending to appear in better condition (MS65 is typical vs. no better than MS63 for the earlier Fuad coins). Does anyone know of an Egyptian published catalog that covers this era? Or do you suppose it's a case of the mint records being destroyed and it's anyone's guess how many were struck?
Some more coins...,,.. ignore the grades on these old holders. They are all pretty much SF, aka Super-Fine(!) .
Wow, you got some really nice beauties there, pricey as well! The top one is bada$$ and the Farook lookin', ones are super cool, love the 66!!
Well thank you, much appreciated. The pair of Fuad issues were bought around 1999 from Bob Steinberg, both coins same transaction, he had them on his list for about 6 months and swung me a tremendous deal on them. The Farouk issue is a recent addition from James Ricks (Atlas Numismatics) - the Cameo designation really sets it apart from its peers. The Nasser coin from Richard Ponterio in a private treaty transaction about 3 years ago, got a pretty good deal on that one too. I need the 1929 Fuad 500 Piastres, along with the 20 and 50 Piastres with that same Fuad left portrait, and the Aswan Dam gold coins, at which point the collection is complete as far as I see it. I see the Aswan Dam coins offered fairly frequently, but always at prices above what I think they are worth. I don't have any interest in the later issues after 1970, the artwork is as banal as US mint ATB quarter dollars on most of them. There are the later 50 and 100 Pound gold coins from the mid-1980s with better designs, originally sold in cards, but again they tend to trade for hefty premiums above what I think is fair market value, plus there are so many different designs that completion would be near impossible. Here's another Farouk superb gem, tied for finest, pop 3/0 finer.
Nice one, I'm amazed by Middle East coinage especially their gold coins! I don't know what it is about King Farook, but some of the medals of him sell for big dollars and I'm talking about bronze medals, older ones! I appreciate your sharing!!
