Description
Struck in AH1270 (1854) for the Kathiri State of Tarim and Seiyun in Hadhramaut, this silver 16 Khumsi is a scarce provincial issue produced under Ottoman suzerainty and cataloged as KM-212. The coin is certified by NGC as VG10, problem-free, and the type is rated RRR in the standard references, a level of rarity reflected in its infrequent auction appearances; Heritage Auctions realized $1,057.50 in 2016 for a slightly finer F12 example.
The obverse displays an Arabic legend with the date enclosed within a laurel wreath, while the reverse features a bold “16” in Arabic numerals, also within a wreath, creating a simple but distinctive design typical of minor silver denominations of the region.
The 16 Khumsi, valued at one-twentieth of a riyal, was struck in limited quantities, and surviving examples are seldom offered on the market. Pieces of this issue are sought after by collectors of Arabian Peninsula coinage, Ottoman provincial issues, and the coinage of the Eastern Aden Protectorate.
