Tunisia 20 Franc 1901

Tunisia under French Protectorate and Ali Bey ("Struck in His Name"), AH 1299-1320 or 1882-1902 A.D. Under Ottoman Turk rule the area made a substantial living from piracy, eventually involving US and International efforts to curtail the disruption and expense (1819). Without this income the country declared bankruptcy which allowed the French to offer protection in 1881. Tunisia abolished the monarchy and established an independent republic in Jul 1957.