Owner Comments:
With the 1327/6, we come to a very underrated coin within the Ottoman Nickel Para series, largely due to a mintage figure that is published in many World coin catalogs that Ottoman Mint records contradict. The mintage that is often listed for the 1327/6 20 Para is 20,663,000, which would put it in range with the series' most common date, the 1327/5. But try to hunt for examples of this coin. It's available in circulated grades, but not nearly in the numbers of the 1327/5. Or even the 1327/3 and 1327/4. And in Mint State, it's next to impossible. Clearly, something is amiss with that mintage figure.
Ottoman Mint records quoted on the now defunct website ottomancoins.com indicate that the actual mintage of the 1327/6 20 Para is 58,000. The fact that the 20,663,000 figure is incorrect is absolutely believable for two reasons. One is the general lack of availability of these coins. They're seen about as often as the 1327/2 in circulated grades. The second is the fact that only 800 20 Paras were minted the next year. Judging from these facts, I'd say 58,000 is at least in the ballpark. As for myself, I think 58,000 is a bit too low based on availability. I'd estimate that the true mintage is something more like 580,000 and somebody dropped a zero or another eight when marking the 1914 mintage figure down in the records.
This coin was an extremely difficult coin to track down. Of the Mint State coins in this set, this one was the hardest to locate, and was only exceeded by the 1327 No Regnal the one variety of the 1327/7 that I have. This coin is spectacular to behold. It has the most intense deep icy luster that I have ever seen on any nickel coin and is truly one of a kind.
Year of Issue-1914 Mintage- 20,663,000 (likely incorrect)