The initial leiters on Ottoman coins of the eighteenth century / Samuel Lachman

THE INITIAL LEITERS ON OTTOMAN COINSOF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

(PLATES XXVI-XXVIII) SAMUEL LAGHMAN

One of the problems of Ottoman numismatics is the initial letters oncoins of the eighteenth Century. Beginning sometime later than 1106H./A.D. 1695, coins of the Ottoman Empire with the exception of thoseof Tripoli, Tunis, and Algiers, show Arabic initial letters in various po-sitions.

Lane-Poole^-and Ghalib2 state that these letters appeared during thereign of Ahmad III. Pere3 writes correctly that they were introducedin the reign of Mustafa II. In Egypt the letters appeared in the reignof Ahmad III. During all reigns of the period, coins without initial letterswere also issued.

In Turkey proper the last coins with initial letters were struck in thefirst regnal year of Mustafa III. In Egypt they continued to appear ir-regularly until the reign of Selim III.

The sultans of this period are Mustafa II, 1 106-1 1 15 H./A.D. 1695-1703;Ahmad III, 1115-1143 H./A.D. 1703-30; Mahmud I, 1143-1168 H./A.D.1730-54; «Osmän III, 1168-1171 H./A.D. 1754-7; Mustafa III, 1171-1187H./A.D. 1757-74; <Abd al-tfamld l, 1187-1203 H./A.D. 1774-S9; Selim III,1203-1222 II./A.D. 1789-1807.

Fig. l

1 Stanley Lane-Poole, The Coins of the Tnrks in the British Museum. Catalogueof Oriental Coins in the British Museum. Vol. VIII (London, 1883), p. xxxviii.

2 Ismail Ghalib. Takvim-i Meskükat-i Osmaniye, (Istanbul 1307 H./A.D. 1890), p. 282.3 Nuri Pere, Osmanlilarda Madeni Paralar. (Istanbul, 1968), p. 185.

199

200 SAMUEL LACHMAN

The initial letters have so far been observed in the following positions:*A. Over ihn in third row of obverse (Fig. l and PLATE XXVI, 1).On the coins of all sultans from Mustafa II to Mustafa III, when ycarsappear in the same place. In Egypt this position continues to be uscduntil the reign of Sellm III. The letters stand alone or in a cartouche(PLATE XXVI, 2). During the reign of Mustafa III the letters occurin Egypt together with numerals (PLATE XXVI, 4).JB. Beneath nun of al-sultän in last row of obverse.(Fig. l and PLATE XXVI, 1).On coins of Mustafa II and Ahmad III.C. Before al-sul}än in last row of obverse.(Fig. l and PLATE XXVI, 1).On coins of Mustafa II and Ahmad III, and on Egyptian zeri mahbubsof Mahmud I. Usually found in combination with letters in other po-sitions. However, an Egyptian zeri mahbub is known with only aninitial letter in this position (PLATE XXVI, 5).D. Over nun of al-sultän in last row of obverse.(Fig. l and PLATE XXVI, 6).On coins of Mustafa II.E. Joined to nun of fön at 1., in third row of obverse.(Fig. l and PLATE XXVI, 7).On an Egyptian zeri mahbub of Mahmud I.

G

Fig. 2

4 The drawings show all possible positions of the respective design; Ihey do therefore.not represent existing coins.

INITIAL LETTERS ON OTTOMAN COINS 201

Over bä of (jiuribä on reverse(Fig. 2 and PLATE XXVI, 8).From Ahmad III to Mustafa III, when years appear in the same position.The lelters stand alone or in a carlouche (PLATE XXVI, 9). It occurson an Egyptian para of *Abd al-Hamld I. In Egypt during the reign ofMustafa III the letters exist together with numerals. (PLATE XXVI, 10).G. Left of accession year on the reverse (Fig. 2 and PLATE XXVI, 11).On paras and akces of all reigns from Ahmad III to Mustafa III, andon Egyptian zincirli altms of Mahmud I.H. Right of accession year on reverse.(Fig. 2 and PLATE XXVII, 12)5On zincirli altms of Egypt of Mahmud I.J. Joined to bä of duribä (Fig. 2 and PLATE XXVII, 13).On Egyptian sflver coins of Ali Bey.K. On top of left upright of bä of duribä.(Fig. 2 and PLATE XXVII, 14).On the Egyptian kurus, of Ali Bey.

L

L. Left of tughra on reverse (Fig. 3 and PLATE XXVII, 15).On Egyptian zeri mahbubs of Mahmud I and «Osmän III.M. Right of tughra on reverse (Fig. 3 and PLATE XXVII, 16).On Egyptian zeri mahbubs of Mahmud I together with position L, andon an Egyptian zeri mahbub of Mustafa III. Egyptian yarim zerimahbubs exist which have in this position the word nisfiye (= half).Somc have above nisfiye an initial letter. These cases will be listed äsn for nisfiye alone, and Mn with initial letter.

5 I wisli to thank the British Museum for providing the photp of this position.

202 SAMUEL LAGHMAN

N. Left of fi on reverse (Fig. 3 and PLATE XXVII, 17).On Egyptian zeri mahbubs of Mahmud I.

04r

-

Fig. 4

0. Over Mustafa in first line of reverse. (Fig. 4 and PLATE XXVII, 18)Egyptian gold coins of Ali Bey only.

Fig. 5

P. Over A?t/nad in second row of reverse. (Fig. 5).Found on an Egyptian zeri mahbub of 'Abd al-Hamld L

There may be further positions. Ghalib6 indicates letters near thetughra on Egyptian zincirli altins of Mahmud I. In the absence of il-lustrations in his description, the exact position of these letters is notknown.

In positions A and E the initial letters occur in cartouches. More thanone form of the cartouche was used for the same letter on the same coins(PLATE XXVII, 19 and 20). The initials may be composed of two orthree letters. On Egyptian zeri mahbubs of Mahmud I the füll nameRäghib occurs in position A (PLATE XXVII, 21). The name Baklr isfound on coins of Egypt in the reign of «Abd al-I^amid I (in position A).Initials may be met with on some coins in up to three positions. InEgypt, in the reign of Mustafa III the letters are found together with

0 Ghalib, Takvimi, Nos. 708-709.

INITIAL LEITERS ON OTTOMAN COINS 203

mimerals. It is pointed out that letters in cartouches are sometimesdifficult to identify and may be mistaken for an ornament (see descrip-tion below).

In order to list all known varieties, the initial letters have beennumbered and these numbers are used in the list of coins for identifica-tion (Fig. 6).

g P « ? f »^ VJ P t/-» ia t» 14 ir i$ ir IS l?

Sl ÄÄ 25 *0 25 36 *T *i« l «

k: b u& <3t*fi »Xc CÄ «X» j*-, 2? 3s 31 SÄ 33 31 3ff 36

~«ie« j%»s ^&' <|» U \r~^ f<Xe »X«f«7 j| a§ 4« 4i 4i ** W

^ Fig. 6

The first cartouche was used in the reign of Mustafa II. In many ofthe early cartouches it can not be determined whether the cartouchecontains Initials or an ornament. The possibility that they are initialsis stressed by their asymmetrical appearance. The following list de-scribes a number of cartouches. The serial numbers will appear in thecoin lists. This list is in no way complete äs the cartouches are frequentlynot clear enough on the coins. More such cartouches exist. All thesecartouches are in position A, and the mint is Qustantmiya (PLATE XXVI).

Cartouche Particulars CoinNo.

Mustafa II101 Probably initial 13. Kuru§.

III.102 Initial? Zolta103 May be initial 33. Zolta104 Could be initial 15. Zolta

204 SAMUEL LACHMAN

105 May be ain-m-d Zolta106 Seems to be an ornament. Zolta107 May bc initial 18. Zolta108 Perhaps w-w, the second reversed. Zolta109 May be l-kh-l joined, the second l

reversed. Zolta110 May be initial 33. Yanm zolta.

This presentation is preferred äs very early impressions from these diesare required in order to decide definitely what these cartouches contain.No study of these cartouches has so far been published. The illustrationsare about six times normal.

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.

* The letter Stands in a cartouche.? In the reference the description is not clear, or the letters are

not clear on the coin.-j- There may be an additional letter in another position which

is defaced or off-flan.dr The letter appears twice, the second reversed, in position E

(PLATE XXVII, 22) and perhaps in some cartouches in positionA äs described above.

References:BERN Samuel Bernard, Description de l'Egypte. Vol. XVI Memoire

sur les monnaies d'Egypte. 2nd. ed. Paris, 1825.BMC Stanley Lane-Poole, The Coins of the Turks in the British

Museum. Catalogue of Oriental Coins in the British Museum.Vol. VIII. London, 1883. Addenda, Vol. X. London, 1895.

GAIRO Stanley Lane-Poole, Catalogue of the Collection of ArabicCoins Preserved in the Khedivial Library at Cairo. London,1897.

COP J. 0strup, Catalogue des monnaies arabes et turques du cabinetRoyal des Mcdailles du Mime National de Copenhaguc.Copenhagen, 1938.

DAV John S. Davenport, The Dollars of Africa, Asia, and Oceania.Galesburg, Illinois, 1969.

INITIAL LETTERS ON OTTOMAN GOINS 205

FÖN Adolph Weyl, Verzeichnis der Münzen und Denkmünzen derErdteile Australien, Asien, Afrika. . . . der Jules Fonrobert'sehen Sammlung. Berlin, 1878.

FRI Robert Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World. 2nd. ed. New York,1965.

GAL Ismail Ghalib. Takvim-i Meskükat-i Osmanige. Constanti-nople, 1307 H./A.D. 1890.

H Collection Walter Husch, Dortmund.7LAG Author's collection.OLG Cüneyt Ölc.er, Souyet Rusya Müzelerindeki (Moskova ve Le-

ningrad). Nadir Osmanli madeni paralari. [Rare OttomanCoins at Soviet Russian Museums (Moscow and Leningrad)].Istanbul, 1972.

PERE Nun Pere, Osmanlüarda Madeni Paralar. Istanbul, 1968.SASS Collection Benjamin Säss, Jerusalem.7SCH Anton Schaendlinger, Zur Münzprägung des Osmanischen

Reiches. (Dissertation). Vienna, 1962.SCH II Anton Schaendlinger, Osmanische Numismatik.

Braunschweig, 1973.ZOD Zodiac Stamp .& Coin Auction, Tel Aviv. July 4, 1972.

In general, preference is given to a ref erence which illustrates the coin.All coins are illustrated by Davenport and Pere. References to theauthor's collection are followed by references to other sources, whenavailable.

It should be understood that the particulars of the coins shown inthe lists have been taken over äs described in the various catalogues.The following is a short description of the coin names, mints, etc.mentioned in the lists.Gold. The cedid esrefi altm, the Zeri Istanbul, the zincirli altin, thetugrali altin, and the findik altin are all gold coins of ca. 3.50 gm. Thezeri mahbub introduced in the reign of Ahmed III in 1128 H./A.D. 1716weighs ca. 2.60 gm. Yen! tarzda means new type.

7 I am grateful to Walter Husch and Benjamin Sass for permitting their coins tobe included in this description.

206 SAMUEL LACHMAN

Silver: From the time of AJbtmad III the kuru§ has 40 paras and the para3 akses. The weight of the kuru§ varied between c. 12.80 gm, andca. 26.40 gm. Fractions of the kuru§ are expressed by the number ofparas. The zolta has 30 paras.Bronze. The Status of the large bronze coins is not clear. Ghalib8 writesthat they were not mentioned by the official historians of the OttomanEmpire. The denomination of the Egyptian bronze coins is not indicatedanywhere; they may have had the value of an akce.Numerais. The names of many coins are formed from mimerals, thus:Altmyi 60, yirmi 20, on 10, be§ 5, dort 4, üc 3; gifte = double, birbuyukIf, tek = single, yarim f, ?eyrek |.

Mints. Islämbül {Qus$antüniya J Constantinople == IstanbulOrdüyu Hümayun War issue.Misr EgyptEdtrne AdrianopleIzmlr SmyrnaGendje Later Elizabethpol, now

Kirovabad, U.S.S.R. (Azerbai-jan).

Tabrlz Tabriz,Tiflis Tbilisi, U.S.S.R. (Georgia)Gümüsh-Khäne Gümüsane

Mustafa II

The initial letters began in the reign of Mustafa II. Inasmuch äs thekuru§ and yarim kuru§ from Qustantmiya exist in the style of the pre-ceding reign without initial letters (PLATE XXVII, 23), itisobvious thatthe letters were not introduced at the beginning of the reign in 1106 H.The overstriking of European crown-size pieces9 with the tughra designor äs the contemporary kuru§ began in 1108 H.10 In the same year mints

8 Ghalib, Talevimi, p. 257.9 Lane-Poole, BMC, Nos. 418-9.10 Ghalib, Takvimi, p. 254.


were opened at Edirne, Erzurum, and Izmlr.u From Izmir the kuru§is known in the old stylewithout initial letters (PL ATE XXVII 1,24). Thecedid esjefi altin Ordüyu Hümayun which has an initial letter was struckin 1109 H.12 It appears therefore that the letters were introduced in1108 or 1109 H. The number of initials on record for this reign are:Qus^antinlya 6 and one cartouche; Ordüyu Hümayun 1; Edirne 2; Izmirl, for a total of ten.

Denomination

Qustantiniya

Cedid esrefi altmKuru§

Yaran kurus.

AE 38mm.29mm.29mm.

Ordüyu Hümayun

Cedid e§refi altm

Position

BB

A, B

A, B, G

A, GD

A, BA, G

D

A, B

A

Letters Reference

739

13,513,17101,7

13, 5 ,513, 17, 5

15,59

13,513,515,5

9

13,513,515

PERE 484SASSLAGSASSLAGPERE 492LAG; DAV 317(PLATEXXVI,!)LAGSASSLAGPERE 493LAGLAG(PLATEXXVI, 6)PERE 495PERE 496LAG

15 PERE 489

11 Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall. Die Geschichte des Osmanischen Reiches. (Pest,1827-1835), Vol. 6, p. 628.

12 Pere, Osmanlilarda, p. 185.

208

Denomination

Edirne

Cedid esrefi altmKuru§Yanmkuru§AE

Izmir

Kuru§

SAMUEL LAGHMAN

Position Leiters

13343434

B 35

PERE 481LAG; PERE 490LAGLAG

LAG

Afymad III

The mimber of letters of this reign äre äs follows: Islämbül andQustantMya 23 and 9 cartouehes; Gendje 1; Mi§r 6; Tabriz 1; Tiflls1; for a total of 32.

Denomination

Islämbül

Zeri Istanbul

Yarim zeri Istanbul

Zeri mahbub13

Yarim zeri mahbub

Position Letters Reference

F* 3 LAG"(PLATEXXVI.9)

8 BMC 47314 PERE 49916 LAG19 GAL63335 LAG; BMG 472

F* 35 BMG 47436 PERE 500

A* , 3 5 LAG; PERE 501A* 7 GAL636

8 BMC 476

13 The tughra of the Zeri Mahbub BMC No. 475 with letter 12 dated 1123 is thatof Mahmud I and not o£ Ahmed III. The aceession year is damaged. It should read'1143. Similar damages were seen by the author.


Denomination

Islämbül (contixraed).Para

QustantimyaBe§lik e§refi altin

(ornate border)

(dot border)Dörtlik e§refi altin<Gifte e§refi altin

E§refi altm 25 mm24mm21 mm32mm22mm

Kuru§

Yirmilik

Onluk

Position

G

Leiters Reference

.A*, B

A

A*

A*, B

513141519

19,2

40184013

18,1379

1318

4,367

353

353

36,33,36

378

191935

3,3636,314,6

PERE 522LAGLAG; BMC 479LAG; GAL 638LAG; BMC 478

GAL 606

GAL 607PERE 504PERE 505GAL 608PERE 506GAL 610PERE 508GAL 611PERE 507GAL 612LAG; PERE 516LAG; DAV 321BMC 441LAG; BMC 447BMC 448GAL 715PERE 517BMC 452BMC 453BMC 454BMC 451PERE 518LAGLAG; GAL 617LAGGAL 618

210 SAMUEL LACHMAN

Denomination Position

Qustantinlya (continued),Be§lik

Zolta

Yanm zolta

Zolta (different type)Para (obv. tughra)

Para (obv. inscription)Ak?e (obv. tughra)

A*

BB

A,BA*, B

A*f B, G

B

'A*, B

A*, B, GF*G

-

G

8353

1513,17102,5103, 40106, 10107, 33108, 13109, 2735, 18 ?

?,97,18

104, 18, 13105, 18, 13

3310

103,9?, 13

110, 18, 131223567

1436624

BMC 455PERE 519GAL 619GAL 620LAGLAGLAGLAGLAGLAGLAGLAGLAGPERE 520LAGLAGBMC 450 'OLG 80l*LAGLAGLAG; PERE 521GAL 623BMC 460LAG; GAL 625LAG; BMC 457LAGLAG; BMC 458BMC 462LAGBMC 467»BMC 464GAL 627

14 Listed äs a zolta, but no doubt a yarim zolta.15 Listed in BMC äs ak?e, GAL 629-631 are listed äs paras.

INITIAL LEITERS ON OTTOMAN GOINS 211


Qustantimya (continued).

Akce (obv. inscription)AE 37mm. B ?, G

30mm. BGendjeOnluk F*

MisrQifte es. reu altm AEsjefi altin A

Gifte cedid zincirli altm FCedid zincirli altin F%

F

Yanm zincirli altm F*F

TabrizCedid zincirli altin F*Onluk (obv. inscription) A*Be§lik (obv.. inscription) A*Onluk (obv. tughra) F*Be§lik (obv. tughra) F*Yanm beflik (obv. tughra) F*

TiflisGifte e§refi altm A*Gedid e§refi altm A*Onluk A*Be§lik A*Yanm be§lik A*

Leiters Reference

5257

?, 1318

15

141415182836dr3dr36dr

3dr36dr

191919191919

33333

BMC 463BMC 465BMC 470PERE 536LAG

BMC 483

GAL 650GAL651GAL 652CAIRO 1700BMC 487BERN1BMC 489aLAG; PERE 510(PLATE XXVII,22)GAL 654BERN 6

PERE 513BMC 485BMC 486PERE 530PERE 531GAL 643

GAL 644PERE 514LAG; PERE 532PERE 533PERE 534

212 SAMUEL LAGHMAN

Malimüd I

The tughra of this sultan exists in two styles which differ in the num-ber of squares in the left lower part of the tughra. Both are inscribedKhan Malimüd b. Mustafa al-muzaffar daima. Tughra (a) (PLATE XXVIII,25) is the earlier one. This can be established by the weight of the kuru§.The kuru§ of Ahmad III has a weight of 8| dirhams ca. 26.40 gm. Theearly kuru§ of Mahmud I has the same weight. This weight was laterre-duced to 7| dirhams—ca. 24.0 gm. Tughra (a) exists only on theheavierkuru§. In the list the tughra will be designated (a) or (b) (PLATE XXVIII,26) if possible, but it should be understood that there are cases of doubt(worn coins or illustrations not clear). A number of coins exist with bothstyles of the tughra with the same initial letter. In addition severalletters have been met with on coins with different ornamentations. Anumber of silver coins of Qustantfauya have the accession year in acartouche (PLATE XXVIII, 27), abbreviated cart. in the list. Therecorded letters of this sultan are: Qustantimya and Islämbül 11;Gümüsh-Khäne 2; Misr 17, for a total of 30.

Denomination Position Letters Reference

Islämbül

Beslik cedid Istanbul altinBorder of flowers (b) F* 13 PERE 543

Ornamental border (a) 15 GAL 66315 PERE 54413 BMC 502

Üclik cedid Istanbul altmOrnamentalborder 13 BMC 502 d

(b) 31 PERE 545Plain border (b) 31 PERE 546

£ifte cedid Istanbul altmOrnamentalborder (a) 15 PERE 547Three circles (b) 15 PERE 548

Bibueukluk cedid Istanbul altin28 mm rope ekele & circle of buds (b) 8 PERE 55131| mm. broad ornamental border (b) 13 PERE 549

INITIAL LEITERS ON OTTOMÄN COINS 213

Denomination Position Leiters Reference

Islämbül (continued).

29 mm. three circles29 mm. ornamental

(b)border

24 mm. plain border

153115

PERE 550GAL 667BMC 507

Yeni tarzda cedid Istanbul altins:Bibucukluk altin

Tek altmYarim altm

Zeri mahbubfXJ

Yarim zeri mahbub

Beslik

Qustantmiya

Kuru§18

cart.

F*(a)(b)(a)

A(a)(b)(a)16 A*

(b)1'

A(b)(b)17 A*(b) A

A*(a)(b) A(b)(b)

81588

158

121215

15

3121512

81514292931

GAL 669PERE 552PERE 553PERE 554BMC 510GAL 672LAGLAG; PERE 555LAG(PLATE XXVII,19)LAG; PERE 556(PLATE XXVII,20)GAL 677 - :PERE 557LAGPERE 577

GAL 675PERE 573PERE 572LAG; DAV 324LAGBMC 518

*<* Oval cartouche.17 Trapezoldal cartouche.18 The zolta BMC 516 is a clipped kuru§. No zolta was struck in the reign of Mah-

mud I. Hammer-Purgstall, Geschichte, Vol. 8, p. 214.

214

Denomination

SAMUEL LACHMAN

Position Leiters

Qustantimya (continued).

Yirmilik(a)

A*

Onluk

Be§lik

Para

Akce

(b)(a)(b)

cart. (b)

(a)(b)(b)

cart. (b)cart. (b)

(b)(a)

(a)

(b)

(b)

(b)(a)(a)(b)(b)(b)(a)(a)

A*

A

G

G

Reference

S15

8121429292931153114142931158

12142931S

121415162930313

12

COP 2617LAG (PLATE

XXVI, 2 andPLATE XXVIII,25)GAL 679GAL681LAG; GAL 682PERE 574LAGLAGGAL 684PERE 575LAG; COP 2618LAGLAGLAGLAG; GAL 687LAGGAL 690PERE 576BMC 529LAGBMC 528LAG; GAL 693LAG; GAL 691LAG; GAL 694PERE 578LAG; GAL 695LAG; GAL 692LAGLAG; GAL 697LAGLAG

INITIAL LETTERS ON OTTOMAN GOINS 215


Qustantmiya (continued).

Leiters Reference

AE cart.

Gümüsh-Khane

Kuru§

Yirmilik

Misr

Gifte tugrali altmZincirli altin

25 mm.

19 mm.

Yanm zincirli altm

Gifte zeri mahbubZeri mahbub

(b)

(b)

(a)(a)(a)(a)

(b)(b)(b)

(a)

A*

A*AA*A

A, LG & ?

(near tughra)near tughra?

H

HG

GH

A, NA

C

141625293129

10121012

12,4116,3

37

716

167

25,58

122526

11

LAG; PERE 579LAG; GAL 701BMC 534LAGGAL 700PERE 583

PERE 568LAGPERE 569H

BMC 541GAL 708

GAL 709BMC 551(PLATE XXVII,12)BMC 552LAG(PLATE XXVI,11)BMC 553BERN 7FÖN 5044BMC 548LAG; PERE 562LAGLAG; PERE 561(PLATE XXVII,21)LAG

216 SAMUEL' LACHMÄN

Denomination

Mi§r (continued).

Position Leiters Reference

Yanm zeri mahbub

Para

(b)

(b)(b)

(b)

(b)(b)

(b)(b)

(b)

(a)(b)(a)(a)

(b)

(b>

E

L

A*, CA, LA, N

L, NA*, G, L

A

L, nL, Mn

A, L, nF

F

29

415

'2412,1925,525, 5

25,1225, 16

15,512, 19, 41

1225

15, ?15,7

20, 41 ?557

12

121532-5

(PLATE XXVI, 5)

LAG(PLATE XXVI, 7)BMC 545BMC 546LAGLAGBMC 547LAG(PLATE XXVII,

17)LAGSCH II, PL 4,

No. 5l19

PERE 563

LAG'BMC 550PERE 564GAL714

ZOD 730GAL713LAGLAGLAG; BMC 555.LAG(PLATE XXVI, 8)

LAGBMC 557LAG; BMC 559LAGManghir (AE)

19 Anton Schaendlinger, Osmanische Numismatik. (Braunschweig, 1973), pp. 69,115, plate 4, No. 51, described äs a Zeri Mahbub of Mustafa II dated 1113. Thetughra of this coin is that of Mahmud l and the accession year is 1143. See note13 above.


*0thmän 111

There are the following letters during this reign:Qust>ant>inlya and Islämbül, 5; Misr 4, for a total of 9.

Denomination Position Letters Reference

Mämbül

Be§ findik altinOrnamental border F* 4 PERE 588Floral border 4 PERE 589

Üc findik altinOrnamental hprder . F* 4 PERE 590Floralborder ~' 4 GAL 731Blank space 4 PERE 531

Birbucuk findik altinOrnamental border F* 4 PERE 592Blank space 4 GAL 734Border of buds,Ornaments in the field 4 PERE 593

Zerimahbub A 2 GAL 7363 PERE 594

Yarim zeri mahbub A 3 PERE 59522 BMC 251

Qustantmiyya

Kuru§ A 22 DAV 325Yirmilik A 3 PERE 599Onluk A 2 COP2633

3 LAG; BMC 5818 LAG; GAL 739

22 PERE 600Be§lik A 2 PERE 601

. . 3 GAL 740Para G ' 3 LAG; GAL 741

8 LAG; BMC 58322 , .LAG; BMC 584

218 SAMUEL LACHMAN

Denomination Position Leiters

Qustantiniya (continued)

Akce

zeri mahbubZeri raahbub

(yeni tarzda)Yarm zeri mahbub

Para

G

A, LA

A, L

A

F

23

22

Reference

8,37

8,12

8,127878

12

BMC 585LAGLAG; PERE 596(PLATE XXVII,15)PERE 597BMG 586BMC 587GAL 747LAGLAG

Mustafa III

The tuhra of this sultan was ehanged from (a) Mustafa khan b. Afymadal-muzaffar daima (PLATE XXVIII, 28)9 to (b) Mustafa b. Afymad al-muzaffar daima (PLATE XXVIII, 29). The change was not carried outf or all denorainations in the same year. It has been said that the changewas effeeted between 1173 and 1175 H.20 However, the Egyptian ZeriMahbub with letter 44 was changed in 1176 H. Both styles of the tughraexist (PLATE XXVI, 3 and 4) in this year. The coins of Qust/antlmyawith initial letter werestruck in 1171 H. and have tughra (a). In respectto the Egyptian coins the style is indicated äs far äs possible. Thecoinsof AliBey have all the tughra in style (b).The following initial letters are recorded for this reign:

1; Misr HI Mi§r9 Ali Bey l, for a total of 13.

20 Pere, Qsmanlilarda, p. 213.

INITIAL LETTERS ON OTTOMÄN COINS

Denomination

Qusiantiniya

Kuru§Onluk21

Be§ilik

ParaAkpe

Misr£ifte zeri mahbub

Zeri mahbub

Position

AAA

GG

A

A

Leiters Reference

(a)(a)(a)

(b)(a)

Yanm zeri mahbub (a)Ceyrek zeri mahbub (b)Para (a)

(a)

(a)(b)

81 Schaendlinger, Osmanische N U M, p. 121, lists also altmiflik and yirmilik whichmay also bear the initial letter 8.

A, M

AAF

888

88 ?

38457

384244

44

4542,17

384417

24373843

SGH544bPERE 642SCH II, PL 10No. 106.GAL798SCH H, PL 10No. 108.

BMC 637PERE 620PERE 621LAGLAGLAG(PLATEXXVI,3)

LAG; PERE 622(PLATEXXVI,4)

LAGLAG(PLATE XXVII,

16)LAG; PERE 623PERE 624LAGLAGLAGGAL810LAGLAG(PLATE XXVI,10)

220

Denomination

Misr—-Ali Bey

Zeri mahbub 1171, year 83 0

year 8?Yarim zeri mahbub,

1171, year 83 OKuru§ 1183 J

K

Kuru§ 1183, year 85 . J

Yirmilik 1183 KYirmilik 1183, year 85 JOnluk 1183 JBeslikll83 J

SAMUEL LAGHMAN

Position Letters Reference

29 LAG; PERE 626(PLATE XXVII,18)

29 PERE 627

29 PERE 62829 LAG; BERN 16

(PLATE XXVII,13)

29 LAG(PLATE XXVII,14)

29 BMC 647 (DAV13).

29 BERN 1829 BMG 64829 SCH 591 c29 LAG; GAL 80829 LAG; PERE 644

<Abd al-gamid 1.

Three letters were ia use during this reign:

Denomination Position Letters

Misr.

Zeri mahbub

Yarim zeri mahbubYeni tarzda mahbubPara

A

APF

Reference

PERE 664GAJL 87022

LAG; PERE 665PERE 666SASS

22 Ghalib lists this com äs abd 15.

221

Selimlll

Two letters are known from this reign:

Denomination Position Leiters Reference

Misr

£ifte zeri mahbub A 21 GAL 913Zeri mahbub A 2 LAG; FRI l23

(PLATE XXVIII,31)

. 21 PERE 702Yarim zeri mahbub A 2 FRI 2Ceyrek zeri mahbub ~' A 2 FRI 3

The problem is to identify these initial letters. Marsden24 says thatthey are probably mint marks. Lane-Poole25 states that it may be as~sumed that they represent some official's name. He says further thatif we possessed a list of superintendents of the mint, we should find theexplanation of the initials on the coins. Pere26 mentions these initialsbut does not give any explanation for them.

On the working of a mint in the Ottoman Empire, there is the deserip-tionby Evliya £elebi which refers to the 17th Century.27 Bernard28 givesa detailed description of the Egyptian mint at Cairo at the time of theFrench occupation in 1799. He writes that the Shaikh al-balad™ orgovernors of the country, and the pashas or beys who were responsible

23 Letter 2 (b) Stands for Bonaparte and was applied to gold coins struck in Egyptunder French occupation (1798-1801).

24 William Marsden,.Numismala Orientala PL l (London, 1823), p. 416.25 Lane-Poole, BMC, p. ad.26 Pere, Osmanlilarda, p. 185.27 Evliya £elebi. Seyahatnamesi.—For a description and discussion of the mint

arrangements, see Anton Schacndlingcr, Zur Münzprägung des Osmanischen Reiches(Dissertalion) (Vienna, 1962), pp. 80 ff.

28 Samuel Bernard, Description de l'ßgyple. Vol. 16. Mtmoire sur les monnaiesd'ßgypie (Paris, 1825), p p . 4 4 3 f f . . . . _ . . .

29 On the Sheikh al-balad see Stanley Lane-Poole, AHistory of Egypi in ihe MiddleAges. 4th Ed. (London, 1968), p. 355. . .

222 SAMUEL LACHMAN

for the mint, used to have their Initials engraved on the coins.30 How-ever, he does not list any names relative to such initials (with the excep-tion of Ali Bey, see below), or furnishes any other detailed particularsin this respect for the Egyptian mint. He states further that nobodyhad until his time explained these letters on Turkish coins» but if oneknows the names of the shaikh al-balad, pashas or beys, they stand for,one could date the coins properly.31

Codrington38 mentioned single letters on Islamic coins äs denoting thequality of the metal.

Although a definite answer to the question of what these letters standfor in each particular case can only be given when a pertinent manu-script containing detailed particulars turns up, it may be advisable toconsider the many possibilities which offer themselves: dating, securitymeasure, governors (pashas) etc., mints or officinae, mint superinten-dents, other mint offieials.

There is probably no doubt that these letters cannot represent aform of dating. The number of letters found on any one of the morecommon denominations of Ahmed III or Mahmud I is insufficient tocover the period of their reign. Hammer33 states that zoltas were mintedduring the reign of Ahmad III when a daughter was born to him, butthis would not form a kind of dating.

The possibility of a security measure is rather doubtful. Forgeriesalso have initial letters (PLATE XXVIII, 30).

A list of grand vizirs appears in Hammer's description.34 These nameshave no connection with the letters.

With regard to Egypt, the letter 29 Stands for Ali Bey, the rebelat thetime of Mustafa III. According to Bernard,35 letter 21 Stands for Ismä'ilBey at the time of Selim III. Letter 2 is the initial of Bonaparte (SellmIII) (PLATE XXVIII, 31). The historians point out that AK Bey struckcoins in his own name.36 If Bernard is right that the shaikh al-balad used

30 Bernard, Descripüon, pp. 347 ff.31 Bernard, Description, p. 352.32 Oliver Codrington, A Marmel of Muselman Numismaücs (London, 1904), p. 9.33 Hammer-Purgstall, Geschichte Vol. 8, p. 214.34 Hammer-Purgstall, Geschichte, Vol. 7, p. 623 and Vol. 8 ,p. 587.36 Bernard, Description, p. 351.38 Hammer-Purgstall, Geschichte, Vol. 8, p. 299.


to have his initials engraved on coins, then the Statement of the historiansmay refer to the kurus. and the yirmilik which bear theyear 1183, whenhe declared himself independent, and not to the initial. There are someEgyptian zeri mahbubs in the reign of Mahmud I which may bear theinitials of the shaikh al-balad or the pasha, but in general there is nouniformity among gold, silver, and bronze coins.

After the introduction of the kuru§ in the reign of Sülaymän II, thenumber of mints in the Ottoman Empire was limited. It would thereforebe possible that the dies were cut at Istanbul with the inscription duribafl Qustantinlya but the coins were struck at several mints outside thecapital. No Information on this is available. It appears unlikely inview of the large number of letters known from Egypt, where a maximumof two or three mint{ä would have been possible. The question of officinaeseems not to have existed in the Ottoman Empire. The Imperial mintwas in the first court of the seraglio, to which it was transferred sometime prior to 1695.37 The irregulär sequence of the letters excludestheir denoting a number of officinae.

The initials cannot stand for the Superintendent of the mint. Not allletters occur on all denominations of a certain period. Some are foundon gold coins only, while others appear only on silver coins. In addition,the Superintendent of the Imperial mint at Istanbul was frequentlya vizir.38 The appearance of the name of a vizir on a coin, even in theform of an initial, would have been impossible in the Ottoman Empire.

The foregoing particulars seem to indicate that the initials stand forofficials directly responsible for the production of the coins, possiblythe engraver, die cutter, or officer responsbible for the alloy. In a caseof two or three initials, both may be indicated and the third letter mayconfirm the quality of the alloy äs mentioned by Codrington. Themint master is less likely, äs gold and silver coins frequently have dif-ferent initial letters.

If the letters stand for the engraver, it should be noted that the re-occurence of the same letters in different reigns conforms to the habitsof the Ottoman Empire. In the guide book of the seals collection of the

37 N. M. Penzer, The Harem. 2nd. ed. (London, 1965), p. 87.38 Anton Schaendlinger, Dissertation, p. 91.

224 SAMUEL_LACHMAN

Topkapi Saray Müzezi39 it is said that the name of a famous engraverwas, after his death, adopted by another famous engraver.

It may be that signs having a similar significance were used in thereigns of Sülaymän II 1099-1102 H./A.D. 1687-91 and Ahmad II1102-1106 H./A.D. 1691-5).

C T & *Pa b e d

Fig. 7

Sülaymäa II Kurus Position C Sign a. PERE 468b. DAV

Ahmad II Kuru§ Position B Sign c. PERE 476d. DAV 316

Yanm kuru§ Position B Sign c. PERE 477d. LAG (PLATE

XXVIII, 32)

Lane-Poole listed 54 initial letters. In the present description 102initial letters and 10 cartouches are mentioned. There are 315 coins inthe list. The whole represents a summary of what could be gatheredfrom available sources.

39 Guide Book of the Seals Section of Topkapi Saray Museum. (Istanbul, 1959),p. 50.

OTTOMAN COINS

XXVIII

OTTOMAN COTNS

The initial leiters on Ottoman coins of the eighteenth century / Samuel Lachman

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Transcript of The initial leiters on Ottoman coins of the eighteenth century / Samuel Lachman