1976 October War Commemorative

This Egyptian gold coin from 1976 directly commemorates the Yom Kippur War, one of the few instances where a nation issued a proof-quality piece to honor a recent conflict barely three years old.

It was struck in 22-karat gold at the Cairo Mint, with designs that include the Egyptian eagle and symbolic elements like the Suez Canal. The obverse likely bears President Sadat's portrait, though exact engravings vary in surviving examples. Mintage figures remain unclear, as Egyptian records from that era are spotty.

Collectors sometimes confuse it with other Middle Eastern issues, but that's just another myth I've debunked over the years. The coin's edge is reeded, a standard for security, not for show.

Handling one reminds me of the war's human cost, far from the glory tales.