GERMAN AFGHANI 3 PUL - Is this story true?

akdrv

I asked this question on a few boards and so far could not find a difinitive answer.

The following story is from a dealer's website. Is it true? There is no mention in the KM catalog of this coin being minted in Berlin... Can anyone confirm or disprove this story? The Berlin Mint says that they cannot confirm, since their archives were destroyed during the war.

GERMANY - AFGHANI WAR PACT AND COINS of 1937

Few people are aware, that just prior to World War II, the Germans set out to establish new alliances with a variety of countries, especially those middle - Eastern nations that could supply strategic materials to Germany for the war. Interestingly, Mohammad Zahir Shah came to power in Afghanistan the same year as Hitler ( 1933 ) and a close relationship developed between the 2 countries; So much so, that Germany now began offering many services to Afghanistan, such as the minting of its coins.

In 1937 the first all bronze 3 Pul coins were minted in Berlin. These were flown from Germany to Kabul Airport, by the only commercial company using those facilities, namely, Lufthansa DLH ( from the merger of Deutscher Aero Lloyd and Junkers Luftverkehr ), using Junkers Ju 52/3m .

At the outbreak of the War in 1939, Afghanistan was pressured by the Allies to break its ties with the Germans and thus, coin production contracts were no longer executed by Germany. These 3 Pul coins dated 1937 are all in uncirculated condition, with minimal exposure and represent a fascinating page of history.

cacheman

Interesting, I wonder where the coins went then.... Unless the story was written to PUL our chains...

akdrv

<< <i>Interesting, I wonder where the coins went then.... Unless the story was written to PUL our chains... >>



This dealer has a whole lot of them. I thought it was an interesting story and bought a few for resale and exchange, but I'd like to find some confirmation. It can certainly be a PUL...

AKDRV

0john0

I swear we had this exact thread in the last two months. Can anyone find it? I looked back a little but didn't see it. Maybe I saw it across the street, but I don't think so.
-john

Askari

Welcome to the Forum, Akdrv!

It's the first time I've heard this story, but it sounds plausible. I'd have to check my sources at home to see what I can learn. Do you have a link to the site?

MSD61

Found this thread on another forum about this story

Linkeinstein

0john0

Yup, that's where I saw it.
It is a very interesting story. One of many in this great hobby.
Welcome to our forum.
-John

akdrv

You guys are very perceptive. As I said, I posted this question before on other forums (across the street and also around the block), but have not found the answer yet.

The facts so far:

1. Germans and Afghanis were indeed cozy in that time period.
2. Berlin Mint could not confirm, their archives were destroyed. (I actually received an email reply from them)
3. The fact that it’s not mentioned in KM does not mean much. It was pointed out to me that KM is missing a lot of mint information.


AKDRV

Askari

The problem with German mint information -- especially that of the Berlin Mint -- really was lost during WWII. What is known comes from pre-war research and the occasional odd copy of a document that turns up now and then. I've run into the same problem researching WWI-era German material.

There's certainly nothing in this story that I find the least bit improbable. I know that the Berlin Mint produced foreign coinage under contract for a number of nations, but I've never seen a full listing. You might get more info by posting on a German collector website or questioning some of the major German dealers (in Germany and the US).