Obverse. Photo © Heritage Auctions
  • 10 Piastres 1929, KM# E6, Lebanon
  • 10 Piastres 1929, KM# E6, Lebanon
Description

The modern State of Lebanon has existed within its current borders since 1920, when Greater Lebanon was created under French and British mandate, resulting from the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I. Before this date, the designation “Lebanon” concerned a territory with vaguely defined borders, encompassing the mountain range of Mount Lebanon and its outskirts (mainly the Mediterranean coast and the plains of Bekaa and Akkar). The idea of an independent Lebanon, however, emerged during the end of the Mount Lebanon Emirate where Maronite clerics vowed for an independent nation.

An essai is a type of trial strike, typically a non-circulating, non-legal tender coin with a slightly higher mintage than the usual pattern coin.

Obverse

Depicts a Lebanon cedar above the country name inside a rectangle in Arabic and in French below, date on both sides in Arabic and French.

الجمهورية اللبنانية
1929 ١٩٢٩
REPUBLIQUE
LIBANAISE

Reverse

Depicts a mirrored cornucopia bound, containing pomegranates and other fruits, grape cluster hanging from the rim of each horn divided value in Arabic above and French below. ESSAI (a coin prototype) below right.

In classical antiquity, the cornucopia from Latin cornu (horn) and copia (abundance), also called the horn of plenty, was a symbol of abundance and nourishment, commonly a large horn-shaped container overflowing with produce, flowers, or nuts.

Baskets or panniers of this form were traditionally used in western Asia and Europe to hold and carry newly harvested food products. The horn-shaped basket would be worn on the back or slung around the torso, leaving the harvester's hands-free for picking.

١٠
عشرة غروش
10
PIASTRES
ESSAI

Edge

10 Piastres

French Mandate, Essai
KM# E6 Lec# 32
Characteristics
Type Trial strike
Material Silver
Fineness 0.680
Weight 2 g
Diameter 17 mm
Thickness 1 mm
Shape round
Alignment Coin
Mint
Paris Mint (A)

Related coins

French Mandate

Silver, 2 g, ⌀ 17 mm

Aluminium, 1.2 g, ⌀ 23 mm

Aluminium Bronze, 3.94 g, ⌀ 21.8 mm