Owner Comments:
Very few gold coins were minted in Morocco. Most of the coinage used was cast bronze, although silver dirhams were also minted. The denomination of gold coin is called the benduqi, and one benduqi was 3.52 grams. There are some gold mines in Morocco, but the production of gold in Morocco is very small.
Mintage records were not kept for coinage of this era, but these coins are quite scarce. Looking through auction appearances, benduqi do not come up for sale often. However, because demand for them is also quite low, these can be obtained for relatively low prices. The present coin, from AH1277 (1861 AD), is one of the rarest. Krause does not list a mintage or values, but calls it “rare.” The date 1277 was unknown to the series until the first one was discovered in 2001 AD (this is the example shown in Krause). I have been able to track down 2 others, such that the total population I am aware of is 3 (accounting for unknown examples, there are probably 5 existing examples in the world). I saw this one come up for auction in a Spanish auction house, and I jumped on it (I paid $750 in 2018). It was raw when I bought it, and subsequently had it certified by NGC.
All of the benduqi I have seen have been very crudely struck, quite often off centered. These coins were hammered, an imprecise method of making coins. Given the small size of the coin, it is even more imprecise. My coin is no exception – weakly struck and off centered. The color is quite pleasing, with an original patina. I am very pleased to own this special little coin!