1937–1939 Egypt 5 Piastres Silver King Farouk AU–BU

Coin of the Egyptian Playboy King

Descended from the Egyptian Muhammad Ali dynasty that was controlled by Great Britain beginning in the 1880s, King Farouk ruled Egypt from 1936 to 1952. A man with a taste for extravagance, Farouk lived the life of a playboy, going on massive spending sprees and gaining the enmity of the British high commissioner who called him, among other things, “irresponsible and vain.”

“The Thief of Cairo”

While Great Britain officially recognized Egyptian independence in 1922, it still maintained a great deal of influence over the country and its strategic location that linked northeast Africa with the Middle East. During World War II, for example, Farouk’s government bent over backward to cooperate with the same British government that had such a low opinion of the young monarch. This was seen as a humiliating betrayal of Egyptian sovereignty by both his people and the military. By 1952, Farouk’s popularity was at an all-time low and he was forced to abdicate in favor of his infant son, Fuad II, who “reigned” just one year before being deposed as the last king of Egypt. Farouk would live to be only 45, collapsing at a restaurant table in Rome after consuming a large dinner.

Throughout Farouk’s reign, one his great loves was collecting coins, specifically rare United States coins. His proclivity for spending extravagant amounts on American coinage had dealers flying to Europe with some of the rarest U.S. coins ever struck hoping to make a sale with the king that came to be known as “The Thief of Cairo” for the light-fingered way he used the country’s treasury to support his flamboyant lifestyle.

The Young King and His Fez Headdress

Farouk himself ended up on quite a few coins, including this 83.3% fine silver 5 Piastres struck between 1937 and 1939. It depicts the young king — Farouk was just 16 when he was crowned king in 1936 — wearing a traditional felt Fez or Tarboosh. Today, only a few people around the world wear these headdresses. In fact, shortly after assuming power in 1954, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, the leader of the revolution against the monarchy, banned men from wearing the Fez.

You don’t have to wear a Fez, but you CAN own a coin depicting one of the most eccentric spend-happy monarchs the world has ever seen. Secure one for your collection in About Uncirculated to Brilliant Uncirculated (AU–BU) condition today and take possession of a piece from one of the most extravagant coin collections ever assembled.

COIN HIGHLIGHTS:

• THE PLAYBOY KING OF EGYPT – This coin features the portrait of Egyptian King Farouk wearing a recognizable Fez headdress. Farouk was famous for his extravagant playboy lifestyle and for amassing one of the most famous coin collections in history.
• STRUCK IN FINE SILVER – Each coin here was struck in seven grams of 83.3% fine silver and measures 25.9 mm in diameter.
• LEGAL-TENDER COIN – These silver coins were 5 Piastres legal tender in Egypt. Similar to a U.S. nickel, one Egyptian Pound was worth 100 Piastres.
• ABOUT UNCIRCULATED TO BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED CONDITION – Your 1937–1939 Egypt 5 Piastres Silver King Farouk Coin will come in About Uncirculated to Brilliant Uncirculated (AU–BU) condition. Date varies.

Here’s your chance to secure a coin that features a portrait of Egypt’s playboy king with this 1937–1939 Egypt 5 Piastres Silver King Farouk coin. Order yours today!