Iraq Kingdom - Part 2: Proof Coins
Silver Model, ND (ca.1927-1928), Faisal I

Owner Comments:

Kingdom of Iraq, King Faisal I (1921-1933), a Royal Mint trial in silver by Percy Metcalfe for the first coinage of Iraq, undated (c. 1931), obv. profile bust to r. depicting King Faisal in traditional Arabic dress, rev. blank with the word MODEL in centre, milled edge, wt. 11.28gms., diam. 29mm., matte surfaces, good extremely fine, exceedingly rare, possibly the only example in private hands. This trial was possibly intended (by size) as a silver 100 fils, a denomination not introduced during the reign of Faisal I. Two examples of this piece are known in the British Royal Mint Collection. Percy Metcalfe gained his reputation by winning the competition to design the first coinage of the Irish Free State in 1928. He became internationally renowned for designing the new effigies for King Fuad of Egypt in 1929 and King Farouq in 1938. Most famously he is known for the portrait of King George V, which was used on the obverse for coins of Australia, Canada, Fiji, Mauritius, New Zealand and Southern Rhodesia.