Ancient, British and World Coins and Banknotes

Opening of the Hejaz Railway from Damascus to Medina, AH 1318 [1908], a cupro-nickel medal, unsigned, locomotive to left within wreath, tughra above, rev. legend in Arabic, 30mm (Moyaux 568A; cf. Swan 332). About extremely fine, pierced, with ring suspension (£40-60)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Railway Medals.

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The Hejaz Railway was first proposed in 1864 to transport pilgrims from Damascus to Medina. It came to be built in the early years of the 20th century, funded by Sultan Abdul Hamed, the Khedive of Egypt, and the Shah of Iran. The bulk of the construction force comprised 5,000 Turkish soldiers. The railway was officially opened on 1 September 1908, and was transporting 30,000 pilgrims a year by 1912, increasing to 300,000 by 1914. However, it was severely damaged during the First World War by, amongst others, Lawrence of Arabia. It was never fully restored and only small portions of it are operational today