محب رزق الله

First Olympic Games Stamp Set

Among the world's most prized stamp collections is one of the earliest commemorative sets and considered one of the most valuable collections of Greek stamps. It was issued in 1896, specifically on March 25th, while the stamp set for the first Olympic Games itself began on April 6th and continued until the 15th. Incidentally, March 25th is Greece's Independence Day. When we look at this set, we see…

The hobby of collecting coins and artifacts

Is coin collecting a hobby considered a crime under the antiquities law? This article does not reflect the opinion of the Arab collector, but only the personal opinion of the writer. About 20 years ago, when I decided to emigrate, some esteemed friends warned me not to try to leave Egypt with any currency older than 100 years, otherwise I would face legal consequences…

The Golden Pound and St. George the Roman

Perhaps one of the most famous coins in the world is the English "gold sovereign," so much so that it has become proverbial, with people saying that someone's reputation is as good as a gold sovereign! But what is its story, and why does it bear the image of a saint who never visited England in his life? From a practical standpoint, there are two aspects, or rather, two stories. The first story: George (or George of Cappadocia) was born in Cappadocia (present-day Turkey), and according to one account…

About the Egyptian Post

A brief overview of the Egyptian postal service, published by the "Egyptian Youth Education Authority" and printed in Florence, Italy in English in 1912, was republished in the book "Egyptian Postage Stamps" by Fred Melville in 1918. Simple post offices were opened in both Cairo and Alexandria, their purpose being to deliver letters to the European community, hence their later name, Posta Europea. There are still...

The hobby of kings and presidents

What are the hobbies of kings and presidents? And why are they called that? Most of us know that King Farouk was one of the world's greatest stamp collectors, but perhaps not all of us know that US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was also a huge fan. This may have been one of the reasons for the friendship that developed between the two men, unlike the relationship that existed between…

Love Dirham

From the stories of coins: The Love Dirham! Perhaps one of the most beautiful Islamic coins in terms of design, its exquisite design is surpassed only by the even more beautiful love story it tells! The coin known as the "Lion and Sun Dirham" or "Love Dirham" was minted and circulated in the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum. It differs from most Islamic coins that have reached us, as it does not bear a decorative design…

A gang that forged postage stamps was arrested.

The police successfully apprehended a dangerous gang specializing in forging rare postage stamps. In 1921 (translator's note: the conference and stamps were issued in 1926), the International Navigation Conference was held in Cairo. At that time, the Egyptian Postal Authority issued a new set of stamps in denominations of 5, 10, and 15 milliemes. Despite the sale of a large number of these sets, the quantity...

King Farouk and the promotion of stamp collecting

There is no doubt that His Majesty King Farouk I's interest in stamp collecting directly contributed to the spread of the hobby in Egypt. He had several notable experiences, one of which I will recount, though it may not be widely known. Most of us are well aware of the events surrounding the royal visit that took place in early 1946 when King Abdulaziz, the Saudi monarch, visited Egyptian soil and the reception he received…

Anwar Sadat and his hobby of stamps and coins

President or Hobbyist? Anwar Sadat, the third president of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the commander in the 1973 war, became known for his passion for collecting stamps and coins. When someone mentions stamp and coin collecting among Egyptian rulers, the names of King Farouk or King Fuad's mother immediately come to mind. However, there was another hobbyist...

Colors of coins

Analyzing the colors of these coins might reveal that this is perhaps the most beautiful collection of Egyptian coins ever offered for sale, boasting natural colors untouched by human intervention, along with exceptional condition! Let's analyze the history of these coins through their "colors": Firstly, they undoubtedly belong to a single collection, or a collection that belonged to one person who kept it for many years…

King Farouk's World Coin Collection

What would be the value of King Farouk's world currency collection in our time? An American magazine estimated the value of his collection of American coins, part of his extensive world currency collection, at 2.87 billion Egyptian pounds (US$160 million)! As is well known, the king was an avid collector…

Pasha's Copper Pen

Do you know the story of Nahas Pasha's pen? Nahas Pasha (Mustafa al-Nahhas) (June 15, 1879 – August 23, 1965) was one of the most prominent Egyptian politicians of the 20th century. He served as Prime Minister of Egypt and Speaker of the National Assembly (now the Egyptian House of Representatives). He helped found the Wafd Party and led it from 1927 until 1952 when the party was dissolved. He also contributed to the founding of the Arab League. A few days ago, I came across a British article published on August 27, 1936…

The Story of Nefertiti's Head – Chapter Four

Let us continue the story of the Nefertiti bust: a love triangle between Hitler, Nefertiti, and King Fuad. Adolf Hitler gazed at his comrade-in-arms, Hermann Göring, thinking to himself, "He will live like a pig and die like a pig, knowing nothing about art…" Göring replied, "Adolf, just listen to my point of view… The Egyptians have agreed in principle to a friendship treaty with Germany only…"

The Story of Nefertiti's Head – Chapter Three

What is the connection between Nefertiti's head and Hitler's marshal's baton? Spring 1945, Prague, Czech Republic. Roy couldn't believe his eyes for a moment, remaining speechless, mouth agape as he gazed at the ceiling and walls of the luxurious office. The retired general appeared cooperative and perfectly calm outside, while his comrades, Mitcham and Herb, ransacked the house, searching for any loot or mementos…

The Story of Nefertiti's Head – Chapter Two

When was the head of Nefertiti discovered? The head of Queen Nefertiti, December 6, 1912. Good morning, Ludwig! And you, my dear Ernest, the weather is truly beautiful today... a welcome change for the better—the weather in this Minya province is usually anything but welcoming, but that's the fate of explorers, my friend! I sent Hamad and the other men to retrieve the remaining statues from Thutmose's workshop today...

Hobby cost

One of the biggest challenges facing hobbyists is the cost of the hobby itself! How do we overcome this cost? Let me ask you, my friend, how many times have you seen a valuable item and wished you owned it, but couldn't because of its high price? I personally have faced this situation many times! But there is a partial solution: knowledge… knowledge! Knowledge about the item in front of you is the fundamental difference…

Model of the Aswan Dam, 1939

The Aswan Reservoir, also known as the Aswan Dam, is distinct from the High Dam. Construction began in the city of Aswan in southern Egypt between 1899 and 1906. Its foundation stone was laid by Khedive Abbas Hilmi II, and it was inaugurated during his reign. The Aswan Reservoir is located 946 kilometers from the Delta Barrages, also known as the Delta Barrages. The old Aswan Dam was the first dam of its size and the largest dam constructed in the world at that time. Then…

Modern coin minting methods

The Arab Collector's Magazine presents a free lecture on modern Arab coin minting methods, delivered by researcher Muhib Rizqallah. This lecture delves into the details of modern coin production and minting processes. Its importance lies in its ability to help coin collectors, and specifically those interested in identifying errors, understand coin production methods, the likelihood of errors, and the distinction between genuine and deliberate mistakes.

The story of Egyptian aviation and airmail

EgyptAir, the Egyptian national airline, was founded in 1932 by Bank Misr, under the leadership of its national economic leader, Talaat Harb. He was the son of a low-level employee at the Egyptian Railways, but he grew up opposing the foreign presence that controlled Egyptian finances at the time. However, through his determination and perseverance, he finally realized the dream of many Egyptians by establishing Bank Misr in 1920…

Duke of Edinburgh; Prince Philip

The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip Mountbatten (1921-2021), died at the age of 99 years and 10 months. Prince Philip was one of the most influential figures in the British Royal Family during the second half of the 20th century. Born a prince of the Kingdom of Greece just one year after King Farouk, Philip led a full and eventful life, studying…

Massacre of the Directors of the Mint

Most of us have heard the story of the Citadel Massacre, in which Muhammad Ali Pasha eliminated the Mamluks, seeing them as a threat to his dreams of modernizing Egypt. But did you know, my friend, that a similar massacre took place long ago, targeting the officials of the mint? Our story didn't unfold in Egypt, but rather in medieval England…

An interview with Heidi, the artist who created coins depicting ancient Egyptian gods.

Many collectors enjoy collecting their country's coins and official currency, but some countries' ancient civilizations have had such a profound impact on world history that foreign mints (and sometimes even foreign governments) have designed coins inspired by the history of these ancient civilizations. Egypt is one such country. Recently, two of these unique medals have been celebrated…

When was the date added to the coins?

Those who collect modern coins might smile if you asked them about the minting date of a particular piece. What you consider a 2020 issue, Ethiopians consider 2013, Israelis consider 5781, and Saudis consider 1442! The first to add dates to ancient coins were the Seleucids in 312 BC, when they began marking their coins to indicate when they were minted, starting from the date of their recapture of Babylon.

Mr. Tiny

It's wonderful to see a gesture of loyalty towards an enthusiast who played a major role in educating many around him. Today we remember "Mr. Tiny." The first face I saw when I visited the American Numismatic Society headquarters for the first time a few years ago was that of Dan Tiny, or "Mr. Tiny" as he liked to be called—a large, imposing man…

B. Max Mehl, the doyen of currency traders in the United States in the first half of the 20th century

In July 1906, a local Texas newspaper published a small advertisement announcing that B. Max Mehl was retiring from his shoe repair business and would devote himself entirely to the coin trade due to his recent success. The ad urged Texans to find a new shoemaker! Thus began Mehl's serious journey with coins… Benjamin Max Mehl was born in Lithuania (when it was…

Which is more important? The accuracy of the description or the generosity of the generous?

Which is more important? The accuracy of the description or the generosity of the hosts? I believe this question crossed the mind of His Majesty King Farouk in late 1945. At that time, preparations were in full swing to receive King Abdulaziz Al Saud in the Kingdom of Egypt, and King Farouk had decided to honor his guest and commemorate the royal visit on Egyptian postage stamps, ordering that the stamps be issued…

Chinese Opium War Medals

The issuance of coins and medals is usually associated with a significant and glorious event in a nation's history, but sometimes a piece can commemorate a bad memory, and this is exactly the case with the "Chinese Opium War Medals." Britain controlled most of Asia and the world in the 18th century, but the empire fell in love with attractive Asian products, especially Chinese silk and tea leaves…

An excellent opportunity to learn about coins and banknotes in an academic manner.

An excellent opportunity to learn about coins and banknotes academically: The American Numismatic Association holds a summer seminar every year, inviting the world's leading numismatic experts to give intensive courses on various topics related to coin collecting and trading. However, due to the current spread of the coronavirus, the 2020 summer seminar has been canceled, and short lectures will be held instead…

Napoleon III, a strange person and an even stranger life!

He was the nephew of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte the Great. After his uncle's death, he lived as an exile and fugitive in several European countries. After several failed coup attempts, he finally returned to his homeland when news of the 1848 revolution reached him. Thanks to his family history and name, he was able to be elected as the first president of the Second French Republic. However, the new constitution would not have allowed…

century of abundance

Ancient Greek mythology tells that the god Zeus was born to a man named Cronus. Cronus apparently had a penchant for devouring infants, so as soon as Zeus was born, he was hidden in a cave on the island of Crete. The little boy grew up safe from his evil father, cared for by mythical creatures, including a goat—also mythical, of course—which gave him…

6 degrees of distancing

There's a game played by Westerners called "6 Degrees of Separation," which is based on the idea that you can find a relationship between any two people on Earth through 6 degrees or less (meaning, for example, that person number 1 met person number 2, who married person number 3, who worked for person number 4, and so on) – and in this way…

16th Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition

*Postal Stamps* In 1949, the Egyptian Postal Authority celebrated the 16th Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition by issuing 5 commemorative stamps and 2 souvenir cards. The first four stamps featured a model of the Nile statue, a magnificent colossal statue found in the temple of the two Egyptian goddesses, Isis and Serapis, located in Rome (yes, there were Romans who worshipped Egyptian gods even after Egypt fell into their hands!)

Penny from Fiji

One of the most beautiful and inexpensive coins: a Fijian penny bearing the name of King Edward VIII. Edward was King of Great Britain and its colonies, the eldest son of George V. He was a young, athletic, charismatic, and popular figure (unlike his brother, who later became King George VI, father of the current Queen). Edward had a relationship with an American woman named Wallis Simpson, who...

The day the pound lost 30% of its strength during the monarchy!

We often read information about the value of the Egyptian pound in previous eras, some accurate and some not. For example, someone might post a picture of a five-millime coin belonging to King Farouk, calling it a "red millime," and claiming that this millime was worth eight US dollars at once! Most of the comments are filled with curses on the treacherous times, the bad situation, and the lack of blessings!

Gold coins are disappearing!

Until 1914, Egypt disregarded the use of paper currency issued by the National Bank. Employees and workers were paid in gold, and people carried gold coins in their pockets and adorned themselves with them. When World War I broke out, the warring nations needed gold to pay for their purchases, so their banks and treasuries seized all gold coins and exchanged them for paper currency. The price of gold then rose until…

Which do you prefer?

The Yemeni image of the coin was photographed using the technique employed by the renowned American auction house Heritage. This technique relies on a highly even distribution of light to accurately reveal even the finest details, scratches, and imperfections of the coin before purchase. It is a more complex method, requiring additional equipment to achieve this level of detail. However, one drawback is that the coin appears flatter…

When our fingers touch an old coin, we inevitably wonder about its purchasing power during its period of circulation…

The coin on display is a Roman-Egyptian obol, minted in Alexandria around 2,000 years ago in the first century AD during the reign of Emperor Claudius. The obol was a coin introduced by the Greeks and retained by the Romans; six obols were equal to one drachma. It was always made of bronze and weighed between 8 and 12 grams (depending on the minting period), with a diameter of approximately 2.5 cm.

India... the jewel in the British crown

This was the name of the Indian subcontinent (present-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh) from the days of the East India Company until June 22, 1948, when India and Pakistan declared their independence. The official title of the British monarch changed from simply "King" to "Emperor King," and many colonies, such as Canada and Australia, added the letters "Ind. Imp." to their currencies as an abbreviation of the Latin words "Indiae Imperator," meaning...

Location: Egypt, Time: 1941... World War II

British forces and colonies are under immense pressure. Nazi forces are sweeping across Europe and may soon reach the United Kingdom. The Egyptians are offering aid, but on the condition that Britain buys the entire cotton harvest. The imperial treasury is nearly empty. Morale among the soldiers is at its lowest point. The Germans and Italians are sinking mail ships in the Mediterranean almost daily, and if letters are sent by sea…

The Story of an Arabic Stamp

The meeting of Arab kings and presidents in Zahraa Inshas, Egypt, on May 28, 1946, was convened by the Kingdom of Egypt to discuss the issues facing the Arab nation and its role in the post-World War II era following the Allied victory. The presidents and kings of six independent Arab states, in addition to Egypt, were invited: Yemen…

The Egyptian Gazette

It is a famous Egyptian newspaper and is considered the oldest English-language newspaper in the Middle East, as its first issue was published on January 26, 1880, and it continues to this day. Its name is clear and needs little explanation: "Egyptian" means "Egyptian," and "Gazette" usually means "newspaper" or "official periodical." However, the origin of the word may not be known to many, even journalists who work there.

Egyptian silver piastre coin

An Egyptian silver piaster coin, likely a gift from one soldier to another in 1918 as a good luck charm. The soldier smoothed the surface of the coin until it was completely smooth, then engraved on it an image of a horse's head and horseshoe (a sign of good luck) with seven nails (also a sign of good luck) in what is known as "trench art," a common tradition among World War II soldiers…

We are all human, and we all make mistakes.

Our mistakes are usually forgotten after a while, but there are a few mistakes that time can never erase. Take, for example, the mistakes recorded on coins! The incident occurred many years ago in the region of Kashmir, which was part of Afghanistan until 1811 and remained under its influence until 1819 when it was invaded by Indian Sikh forces…

This post might be useful to an "investor" rather than an "amateur" or "history enthusiast.".

I don't claim to know much about finance, profits, and investment in general – so I ask the reader to keep all of this in mind when reading this topic, as it is merely a suggestion that some voices abroad are raising, which may be right or wrong... One of the most significant consequences of epidemics, wars, and disasters in general is "fear," as we all know…

How the Perth Mint in Australia created the world's largest gold coin

Royal Tourism Cup

On my last visit to the Royal Jewelry Museum in Alexandria last year, I saw many beautiful and very valuable pieces, but I was deeply disappointed that the information panels didn't quench my usual thirst for knowledge. Today, by chance, I came across important information about one of these pieces: the "Royal Tourism Cup." The manufacture of this cup was completed…

Uber is available Oberammergau

In a world preoccupied with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), I recalled a visit I made a few years ago to a small German town called Oberammergau, which has a historical story connected to deadly diseases. In 1633, the plague was rampant in the province of Bavaria and its surrounding towns, such as Oberammergau. Death was everywhere, claiming thousands of lives…

Royal Jewelry Museum

On my last visit to the Royal Jewelry Museum in Alexandria last year, I saw many beautiful and very valuable pieces, but I was deeply disappointed that the information panels didn't quench my usual thirst for knowledge. Today, by chance, I came across important information about one of these pieces: the "Royal Tourism Cup." The manufacture of this cup was completed…

Americans say, "If it sounds like a dream, it probably is."“

Recently, numerous advertisements for counterfeit coins have appeared on Facebook… including, for example, an Australian kangaroo gold ounce, silver Morgan dollars, and even unique pieces like those sculpted by the Russian artist Roman Putin. These are all being sold through fake websites, and strangely enough, gold and silver, large and small coins, are all priced at a uniform rate of approximately 201 TP4T USD! These advertisements are unlikely to fool you…

counterfeit currency

There is still a fear, perhaps even terror, of the bogeyman called counterfeit currency that grips a large number of enthusiasts. Today we present to you a counterfeit coin created using a laser – a relatively new technique in the field of forgery. Let's examine it scientifically to uncover its secret together: The coin on display is from my personal collection and is a crown of Queen Victoria in the design known as the "Widow's Head," issue...

The Story of Nefertiti's Head – Chapter One

Introduction: We often think that humans are the heroes of every story, whether good or evil. But sometimes, inanimate objects have their own stories, and if they could speak, we would hear the strangest and most amazing tales! Today, we present the story of "Two Pieces" and recount significant events that historically linked Egypt and Germany, in which these two pieces played a leading role… Chapter One: General Von contemplated…

Indian Rupee 1916

One of the beautiful pieces I recently added to my personal collection, which I also photographed myself, is a captivating coin minted in India. Despite its immense impact on Egypt's financial history for over 100 years, I felt compelled to include it, considering it an integral part of the story of Egyptian currency. The entire matter is explained in the text of the decree issued at Abdeen Palace…

Information is the amateur's weapon

As we've mentioned many times before, information is the most important weapon an amateur can possess. That's why I'm sometimes surprised to see amateurs who have access to these tools yet choose not to use them, preferring to rely on others. Take, for example, these two coins issued to commemorate the January 25th Revolution. They were issued using the technology of circulating currency and were never released in the form of…

Fakeness in the world of hobbies

Since its inception, "The Arab Collector" magazine has taken upon itself the task of warning enthusiasts about counterfeiting methods in the world of hobbies, such as stamps and medals, as well as in the field of coins, where a number of counterfeit pieces have proliferated, such as those that circulated for a time on Chinese websites, in addition to those that appear from time to time on eBay. Counterfeiting is like war; it's a back-and-forth affair, and we find…

Niue Island Editions“

It's delightful to find that those responsible for minting coins abroad actually possess a knack for marketing. Take, for example, the silver coin pictured in this post – the first issue from Niue, near Australia, in 2020. It features Her Majesty the Queen on the obverse, as usual, but the reverse is the reverse of a 1930 Australian penny (and this penny, for those who don't know, is considered one of the rarest coins...).

The process of re-minting coins

Some details about the re-strike process in coins: There has been much talk recently about re-strikes, particularly with the emergence of Egyptian coins from the NGC company, which seemed strange to many collectors. This article will not present all the theories, but rather focus on the known facts about re-strikes in numismatics in general.

counterfeit gold bullion

A warning has been issued regarding the increasing supply of counterfeit gold bars imported from China. Most are made of copper plated with a relatively thick layer of gold. The bar, while encased in plastic, appears very convincing, but upon opening it, imperfections become apparent, revealing its forgery. Testing with a Sigma metal detector confirms the forgery beyond any doubt.

From the records of Egyptian currency documents

From the records of Egyptian currency documents, a letter dated November 12, 1924 – Subject: Design of the (new) half-millime coin for His Majesty King Fuad I. Your Excellency, with reference to the half-millime coin to be issued by the Mint in Birmingham at the request of the Egyptian government, I wish to inform Your Excellency that the minting dies are currently being prepared. Accordingly, enclosed for your information is a general design plan for these coins…

A coin story: The Russian beard tax

Peter the Great, the famous Tsar of Russia (1689-1725), worked diligently to transform his vast empire into a modern European state, modeled after France, the Netherlands, and England. He therefore devoted considerable effort to establishing great cities like Saint Petersburg and founded modern industries such as shipbuilding. He also encouraged trade routes with the West. Upon his return from one of his European voyages, he issued a surprising decree requiring all Russian citizens to wear robes…

When the genius of the forger truly shines through...

Imagine this story, my friend: Some time ago, someone presented this coin to the American Numismatic Society for authentication. It was in excellent condition, and it's known that this date without the mint letter is common (worth approximately 350$ at 65 degrees), while with the mint letter S is very valuable (3600$ at the same degree!). Naturally, the assessors examined the letter and the surrounding area…

A piece of Tutankhamun

The Egyptian government has failed to recover a piece of Tutankhamun's artifact. In news reported hours ago, an artifact belonging to King Tutankhamun was sold at a Christie's auction for £4.7 million (US$6 million). The artifact is a quartzite head. After two months of negotiations by the Egyptian government to recover the piece, the sale was unsuccessful.

A short video of the Colorado coin fair

It's a small local exhibition with no more than 150-200 vendors, but the overall organization is remarkably high. We hope you enjoy your visit.

A reading of the Royal Coin Collection file

A look at the Royal Coin Collection – Some of the withdrawn items: Items 2639 and 2643 (Crown and rare medal box) are among the interesting items withdrawn. Item 2643 is a “crown” skillfully crafted from Egyptian 5-millime coins from the reign of Sultan Hussein Kamel. The Egyptian flag fabric is used as a lining for the crown. Interestingly, this item…

One of the tragedies of the 1954 auction

On the ninth day of the auction, items 2654 through 2738—84 items in total—were withdrawn. Upon reviewing the catalog, the details of the tragedy become clearer. Most of the withdrawn items represent an entire chapter in the book, specifically the chapter on "Egyptian Gold Commemorative Medals." As usual, "Uncle Farid" did not do a good job; he merely mentioned the occasion of each medal's issuance, along with a brief description and the year of issue…

They deceived you when they said... the peasant's pound, Idris

They deceived you when they said that the peasant's fairy has a fascinating story, as the image on it is that of Uncle Idris, or Idris al-Aqsari, or Idris Othman, who dreamt that his impoverished master, Prince Ahmed Fouad, would become King of Egypt and wear its crown. He told the dream to his master, who promised to make him King of Egypt in exchange for placing Idris's image on the fairy, which is what…

Paper design experiments

The most interesting aspect of this collection of paper design experiments is that there are two designs for the five Arab dinar note, one dated 1958 and the other 1959… Is there any information about the value of the Arab dinar? Was the plan to make it equal to the Egyptian pound? These notes were designed at the beginning of the union agreement between Egypt and Syria, and there was a move towards…

Janvier coin minting machine

This is perhaps the most accurate method currently known for counterfeiting currency: reverting to the original using a Janvier die for minting… The Janvier die was invented by the French sculptor Victor Janvier in 1899. He wanted to invent a machine that could reduce the design from the plaster mold made by the sculptor to the steel die used for minting coins. Simply put, the plaster mold is installed…

Electrotype counterfeiting of coins

One method of counterfeiting currency is the electrotype method. Ironically, it was once the preferred method for both serious collectors and museums to create copies of rare coins for their collections, whether for study or display. Currently, counterfeiters abroad do not favor this method because it is relatively difficult, time-consuming, and labor-intensive, and most importantly, it is limited to producing a single coin.

Ugly or beautiful coins?

I was recently blessed – with the help of a dear friend – to acquire these three coins, which I personally consider very beautiful, while some might consider them ugly (especially the faces!). These coins have an interesting story behind them. The riyal (rated 65) and the shilling (rated 66) were offered for sale, and I noticed that the certificate numbers were sequential. Upon checking the appraisal company's website, I realized that the owner…

Episode 8 of: Why the hobby?... The joy of shopping!

Humans love to shop, and when we meet people who say they never like to shop, they usually mean they don't like buying clothes, shoes, household items, etc. But I assure you that we all like to buy things that are important to us. For example, some people thoroughly enjoy buying a new car, and in the West, you find people who like to buy fishing gear and repair tools…

Patina coins

I never imagined I would praise God upon seeing a coin. A coin, as is well known, is a small metal disc designed by humans and manufactured by machines. But I discovered that God has a hand even in coins. The whole idea lies in what collectors call patina, which is the layer of colors that forms on the surface of the coin when the metal reacts with oxygen and other materials such as sulfur…

Not all that glitters is gold... or even silver!!

The Sultan Fuad riyal is a fairly good forgery, but the Arabic script, especially on the reverse (which bears the coin's face value), appears thinner than that on the piastre, shilling, and two-piastre coins of the same issue. The coin has a weight and diameter proportionate to Egyptian royal riyals (28 grams and a diameter of 39.5 mm), and the chain closely resembles the chain of coins issued in 1917 by the mint...

Kings and princes interested in stamp collecting

A charming article published in 1932 showcases some kings and princes interested in stamp collecting, including King Fuad I, the king of hobbies and the hobby of kings! Stamp collecting is considered the king of domestic hobbies, as it's the best way for kings and princes to spend their free time. His Majesty King George V has been collecting postage stamps since his adolescence and has never lost his enthusiasm for the hobby. Today…

Sultan Fuad's Riyal

Finally, after a 98-year wait… a genuine Sultan Fuad riyal is being offered for sale for the first and perhaps last time. The Sultan Fuad riyal – a dream come true. The riyal was valued at 64 for approximately a year and was spotted by an Arab collector. The collector contacted the American company NGC, which preferred not to disclose the owner's name. Now, the company reveals…

The Counterfeit Chinese Currency Series

A new episode in the series of counterfeit Chinese currency – the Sultan Fuad riyal. The forgery isn't excellent and can be detected by comparing the thickness of the font, especially the number 20, with images of the original coin, or by comparing the same design to smaller denominations. The chain also looks poorly made, with wider eyes than usual on Sultan Fuad coins. Will this riyal flood the markets?

Ancient Egyptian legend says

According to ancient Egyptian legend, the letters HR on Sultan Hussein coins are an undeniable sign that the coin is in good condition. Sellers often embellish the details of these letters when selling. Therefore, we would like to present these two pieces to you. The first piece is a riyal with a rating of 63, which, as is clear, lacks the HR mark due to die wear, not the coin itself.

Details of Sultan Hussein Kamel's coins

What are the Sultan Hussein Kamel coins that some people exploit for resale? Ancient Egyptian legend states that the letters HR on Sultan Hussein coins are an undeniable proof that the coin is unopened. Sellers often embellish the details of these letters when selling. Therefore, we would like to present these two pieces to you. The first piece is a riyal with a rating of 63, and it is in its original condition…

Stamp valuation

In a move that, while anticipated, is the first of its kind, CCG, the parent company of NGC, has just announced the creation of a new subsidiary to appraise stamps, similar to the appraisal of coins, banknotes, and magazines. The new appraisal system assigns a score of 1-100 to each stamp, depending on its condition, and each appraised stamp will be placed in a secure holder…

The art of currency processing

The art of coin restoration (which, incidentally, is far removed from coin cleaning) shows that the coin shown in the photos and video still has a rating of 58. However, the coin's luster has been restored to its original shine, which had been hidden under layers of impurities. It should be clarified that if the luster or shine had been lost previously, no amount of restoration will bring it back.

Answer Grades – The difference between 65-64-63 Egyptian royal coins of King Farouk I

You can find more details about the meaning of Ansar coins in the following article: Meaning of Ansar Coins

counterfeit silver riyals

Although this is an exclusive report for Al-Muqtana Al-Arabi magazine, it is unfortunate news for Egyptian collectors. Silver riyals from the 1917 issue, known as the Indian coinage, have arrived in China this year. Several indicators suggest these riyals are not authentic to the discerning collector and can be easily detected. However, this is likely a preliminary test and an important indicator of…

Ten piastres of Sultan Hussein

Ten piastres of Sultan Hussein, obtained by an Australian soldier who received his training in Egypt in 1917 and was perhaps one of the few survivors of the Battle of Gallipoli, were left as is on the obverse while the reverse was completely erased. The soldier (named Claude) then began to re-engrave them in the form of a medal as a memento for his mother in his homeland. This type of re-engraving art…

One of the most remarkable items in King Farouk's auction

One of the strangest items in King Farouk's coin auction was lot number 2796, described as follows: Germany, a collection of banknotes (paper and silk), emergency issues, stacked in 3 large albums: approximately 11,000 pieces “approximately”!! This means that the auctioneers not only failed to describe the item properly, but they also didn't specify the number of pieces in the lot at all… Guess what…

King Farouk coin auction

In 1954, a rare auction featured a distinguished collection of King Farouk's coins in an elegant leather case. This unique collection included various sets of coins representing an entire era in the history of the Kingdom of Egypt. The auction box contained a diverse set consisting of: 13 gold coins, 17 silver coins, 10 cupronickel coins…

Coin valuation and the difference between an Ancer and an Abbott Ancer

The difference between Uncirculated and Abbott Uncirculated: The term "Uncirculated" (UNC) describes the condition of a coin, meaning it has never been in circulation. It represents the highest degree of coin condition and also means a coin that has not been handled extensively or for a long period of time, and shows no signs of alteration, erasure, cleaning, or poor storage.

Currency rating companies

What are the ratings of currency rating companies? Currency rating companies have ratings, just like hotels, airlines, and any service-oriented organization. We only need to examine the image attached to the post to realize the significant difference between 9 currencies, all of which received a rating of 65 from 9 different companies! The two best companies in the world in the field of rating are PCGS, the oldest…

coins of Sultan Hussein Kamel

The recent discovery of the hidden signature on Sultan Hussein Kamel's coins piqued our curiosity, leading us to eagerly study everything related to the coins of Sultan Hussein Kamel, the Sultan of Egypt. What caught our attention and surprised us simultaneously was that while most collectors are aware of the letters HR on silver coins and half-millime coins, what puzzled us was the presence of the letters JR on a denomination…

Re-minting, Part Two

Continuing the discussion on the re-minting of coins and whether it's a common practice, I wanted to share a simple example from the history of Egyptian currency, supported by documents (I have many similar documents, but I've selected five that explain the topic briefly). I believe most of us weren't aware of this story. Attached are documents proving that 2,520,000 of the 10-millime coins from 1917 KN...

Re-minting, Part 1

In recent days (and due to the FAO group), there has been much talk about reminting currency and whether it is a desirable or undesirable act. Therefore, I wanted to mention historical examples of coins that were officially reminted in their countries using the original dies: – 4 ducats of Emperor Franz Joseph, 1915 (still minted in Austria today!) – 100 kroner, 1908, Hungary – 100 kroner…

Salamah Fi Kheir film

Who among us remembers the film "Salama Fi Kheir" starring the late, great actor Naguib El Rihani? Who doesn't remember this wonderful film, produced in 1937? "Salama Fi Kheir" was one of the most important works of the late artist Naguib El Rihani and the directorial debut of Niazi Mostafa. Its story revolves around a messenger working in a shop…

Notes on the Farouk Royal Commemorative Stamps

Did you know that there are some simple observations—which may be unknown to some collectors—about certain royal Farouk commemorative stamps? The 1936 treaty is one of the most important commemorative stamps. The image was taken in the Locarno Hall of the British Foreign Office, not at the Zaafaran Palace as is commonly believed. It is also worth noting that this stamp is the only one in Egyptian history to bear…

The Legend of Coin Collecting

The legendary coin collector John Jay Pittman is a name perhaps unfamiliar to many Arab collectors, yet he is truly a legend among collectors in the United States. Pittman didn't become famous solely because of his prominent presence at the King Farouk auction—many collectors traveled from the farthest corners of the earth to attend that prestigious event—nor because of his phenomenal collection…