Proving Pieces, Maudslay Sons & Field, London, Échantillon or coining-press trial, 1851, for Turkey, in copper, obv. from the rev. die of Abdul Mejid’s second issue 20 Piastres with the accession date AH 1255, rev. arabseque pattern, LAMBETH LONDON 1851, edge plain, 39mm, 24.26g/6h (Hawkins pp.839-40, no.2, this piece listed, and pl.27, 7; cf. DNW 47, 418). Practically as struck with attractive chocolate patina, very rare £200-300

Provenance: R.N.P. Hawkins Collection, Glendining Auction, 16 March 1988, lot 295 (part).

In 1851, when the Mint ceased to operate on a contract basis, Maudslay’s was one of three companies invited to tender for the coining work – a tender that was rejected on the grounds of cost. Undeterred, Maudslay’s succeeded in selling 13 presses to the Turkish government between 1853 and 1860. This is one of the trials made in 1851 and 1852 for the government of Abdul Mejid to approve before that sale