Iraq Kingdom Faisal ii/ 100 Fils 1953 British Royal Mint

[aws22]

In Iraq during the 50s it was strange to have a 100 Fils coin, as the 50 Fils (Dirham) was the most popular coin used in everyday life. People treated this coin almost as a medal issued on the coronation of King Faisal ii. Another unusual thing about it, is that it is made of Silver 0.900 instead of the usual 0.500 for the silver coins in circulation. Unfortunately due to the content of silver in this coin, a large number of the issued coins were melted which led to making this coin as a rare coin plus the fact that it is part of the King Faisal ii coronation set.
KM#115
Wt. 10 gm.
Dia. 29 mm.
Metal Silver 0.900
Mintage: 1,200,000 + 200 Proof.

Beautiful Coin.
Maythem

[Figleaf]

Your coin does show signs of circulation, though.

Many years ago, I visited Egypt. Looking for coins, I ended up in the shouk. Lots of coins there, but even at that age, it was clear to me that the gold coins were mostly jewellery imitations and the silver coins were quite overpriced. The problem was that the dealers knew nothing about coin collecting and everything about overcharging tourists. They kept their coins in boxes where they bumped into each other whenever the box was picked up or moved. In the end, I gave up on old coins and picked up nice low denomination brass and copper-nickel coins from circulation.

Peter

[aws22]

Thank you Peter for your comments, during the period 1953 until 1958, I was a young child but I do not remember seeing such coin. The Dirham (50 Fils) was the most common coin for shopping. The condition of the shown coin looks like it has been circulated or as you have mentioned stored in box with other coins where they bumped into each other whenever the box was picked up or moved. The silver content 0.900 made this coin soft and easily marked. When I bought this coin, the seller had it in a box mixed with other non-silver coins.

Maythem