Brief Tunisian History
Tunisia has a long and rich history. Founded by the Phoenicians over 3,000 years ago, in ancient times it was famous for its important city of Carthage, which was destroyed by the Romans in 146 B.C. The Romans had destroyed Carthage because of its ability to recover and survive, it was therefore ironic that after Carthage had been rebuilt under the Romans, it continued to flourish after the Roman Empire declined.
It was briefly overrun by the Vandals from 459 to 533, and then by the Arabs in 648 until the Turkish invasion of 1570. Under the Turks, its main revenue came from piracy until 1819, when an international coalition threatened reprisals, after which its economy declined, and it eventually went bankrupt, leading to it becoming a French protectorate in 1881. By 1955, Tunisian nationalism had grown, and obliged the French to grant internal autonomy, and full independence followed the next year. In 1957, Tunisia abolished its monarch and became a republic.

Tunisian Gold Coins
In ancient times, the coins of Carthage belonged to the Greek coin series, later Roman. In more recent times, Tunisian coins were denominated in sultani and half sultani, later in piastres, changing to francs under the French. From the beginning of the Republic, they are denominated in dinars.

Specifications
Technical specifications of the most frequently encountered Tunisian gold coins.

Denomination	Diameter	Weight	Alloy	AGW
100 Francs	21.25	6.5500	.900	0.1895
20 Francs	21.15	6.4516	.900	0.1867
10 Francs	18.80	3.2258	.900	0.0933
75 Dinars	26	15.5500	.900	0.4500

Key
Denomination = Face value
Diameter = Approximate Diameter in millimetres.
Weight = Weight in grams.
Alloy = Fineness of gold.
AGW = Actual fine gold weight in troy ounces.

Prices & Availability
The prices quoted in the US $ column may be out of date due to currency fluctuations.

Date	Hejira Date	Denomination	Description	Grade	Mintage	Availability	Price £	Price $
1891 A	1308	10 Francs	Ali Bey	VF	400,000	Yes	£45	$85
1892 A	1309	20 Francs	Ali Bey	EF	937,000	Yes	£85	$160
1897 A	1315	20 Francs	Ali Bey	EF	164,000	Sold	£55	$85
1898 A	1316	20 Francs	Ali Bey	about EF	150,000	Sold	£55	$102
1901 A	1319	20 Francs	Ali Bey	EF	150,000	Yes	£85	$160
1903 A	1321	20 Francs	Muhamad Al-Hadi Bey	EF	300,000	Yes	£75	$140
1904 A	1322	20 Francs	Muhamad Al-Hadi Bey	Unc	600,000	Yes	£85	$160
1904 A	1322	20 Francs	Muhamad Al-Hadi Bey	EF	600,000	Yes	£75	$140
1935	1354	100 Francs	Ahmad Pasha Bey	about EF	3,000	Yes	£150	$285
1935	1354	100 Francs	Ahmad Pasha Bey	EF	3,000	Yes	£135	$255
1982	1402/3	75 Dinars	Habib Bourguiba UNICEF Year of the Child	Proof, about FDC	4,518	Ask	£225	$450

Notes
A = Paris Mint

Please check our Standard Terms for Bullion Coins.
You may wish to use our Order Form UK
Order Form USA.

Postage & Packing
UK Registered Post (Special Delivery) £6 per order
EU Insured Post £10 per order
USA Airmail $10 per order
USA Insured Shipping $20 per order

Tunisian Silver and Base Metal Coins
For silver and base metal coins of Tunisia, please look at our original Chard Coins website.