Tag: circulation

Chronology of the Republican Era Currency

Part 1

(from Declaration of the Republic until 1950)

October the 29th, 1923

The Turkish Republic was declared on the 29th of October, 1923. However, the first coins could be struck a year later.

In order not to hinder daily trade, coins and banknotes that the newly formed Republic inherited from the Ottoman Empire (*1) remained valid.

1924

The Law allowing the Republic to strike its own money was passed in February of 1924. In August, the 10 Kuruş, in September the 5 Kuruş and in October the 100 para bronze coins were put into circulation (*2). The coins inscribed with old text were designed by Ahmet Mesrur Durum (aka Mesrur Izzet Bey). Customary units were retained, 1 Lira was equal to 100 Kuruş, 1 Kuruş was equal to 40 Para.

1925

On 5th of October, 1925, the first golden coins of the Republic were produced. The 5 Lira pieces were struck ceremoniously. The very first piece take out of the press was entrusted to the Minister of Finance Abdülhalik Renda, to be delivered to the president Mustafa Kemal Atatürk(*3).

Meanwhile, the 25 Kuruş nickel coins were released into circulation. The public nicknamed them the “buffalo eye”, due to their large size.

1926

Until 1926, the Ottoman fiscal calendar was the Rumi Calendar. In the Republican era, Türkiye switched to using the Gregorian Calendar.

Then the coins of 1926 and forward had the dates inscribed in that format. However, until the alphabet reform in 1928, years were still written in Eastern Arabic numerals as (١٩٢٦)  (*4)

Ankara golds in two and a half (2½) Lira, One Lira, Half (½) and Quarter (¼) Lira coins were also introduced.

1927

Embellished Monnaies-de-Lux gold coins were introduced. They were struck in five types like the “Ankara Golds” the bullion coins of the Republic.

The first banknotes of the Republic were released on 5th of December 1927. The designs were made by Artist Ali Sami Boyar (*5) and the printing was done in London. The set of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1.000 Lira are known as the “First Emission” within the Turkish financial circles.

Because the banknotes were printed before the alphabet reform, the texts are in Ottoman Turkish Arabic, and the value of the notes are also indicated in French; retaining the customs from the Ottoman Bank notes.

Due to the fact that banknotes were convertible to the gold standard, large denominations like 500 or 1.000 Lira had a great purchasing power. That is why it was unlikely that they were kept for collection purposes. Only few have remained to date.

1931

Part of the reforms of the Republic, a modified version of the Latin letters was accepted as the official alphabet in 1928. In 1931, drafts for the banknotes in new letters were made. There are few specimens of 50 and 1.000 Lira notes that survived to day, however they were not mass printed for circulation (*36).

1934

Türkiye was also affected by the Great Depression of 1929,  hence releasing any currency in the new alphabet was not possible until 1934.

The first coin with the new letters was 100 Kuruş of 1934. For its design, a contest was organised. The winning coin design bore an effigy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk above branches of olive on the obverse, and a Crescent with star encircled with ears of wheat and oak branches. The design was the artwork of Artist Ali Cemal.

The word Cumhuriyet (Republic) was written with an “ü” letter as the exact orthography was not yet settled. Previous Arabic text lacked all the vowels Turkish language uses, hence transition to the new Turkish alphabet created such discrepancies for some time (*8).

1935

A new set of coins consisting of 1, 5, 10, 25 ve 50 Kuruş coins was introduced. The designs were the work of Percy Metcalfe.

Inherently valuable silver pieces bore the effigy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, facing left on the obverse and a single ear of wheat with the denomination on their reverse sides.

The less valuable cupronickel pieces had crescent and star in a pre-standardized form on their obverse, and oak branches for 10 Kr piece, olive branches on the 5 and 1 Kr pieces reverse sides. The designs were of the typical art deco style of Metcalfe.

 

1937

100 Kuruş was withdrawn, and silver coins denominated at 1 Lira value were introduced. Atatürk’s effigy remained as on the 50 and 25 Kr pieces, but the reverse had crescent and star with two ears of wheat. Examples of this coin dated 1935 exist but are very rare (*42 p.50).

First note of the 2nd emission; 5 Lira was released.

1938

Monnaies-de-Lux gold coins bearing Ataturk’s effigy were minted. Their design used the floral frame from V. Mehmed Resad’s 500 Kurus gold coin; the Ottoman Coat of Arms being replaced by an effigy of Ataturk within a ring of 32 stars, the reverse bearing a calligraphic inscription that reads Türkiye Cümhuriyeti (Turkish Republic).

1 Kurus coins were redesigned in undulated form because they were being confused with the silver 25 Kuruş pieces of same diameter. Examples of this coin dated 1938 with 10 bulges exist but are very rare (*42 p.31).

10, 50 and 100 Lira banknotes bearing texts in the new Latin letters were released as part of the 2. Emission.

1939

Two and a half (2½), 500 and 1.000 Lira banknotes were released continuing the 2. emission.

1940

Silver 1 Lira coins bearing the portrait of the second president İsmet İnönü, and bronze 10 Para (quarter of a Kurus) coins were introduced into circulation.

500 and 1000 Lira banknotes bearing President Inonu were also released.

1941

The ship carrying the 50 Kr and 100 Lira banknotes printed in UK, was bombed by the German planes at Port of Piraeus, Greece. The banknotes were scattered and collected by the locals, hence were declared void and were never released into circulation (*14, *36).

1942

1 Lira banknotes bearing İnönü’s portrait were released as part of 2nd Emission.

10, 50 and 100 Lira banknotes with İsmet İnönü’s image, were released into circulation. They were part of part of the 3. Emission.

Türkiye was following a neutrality policy and until a couple of months before the end of the war, retained relations both with the Allied and the Axis Powers. As the Turkish Republic did not have its own banknote printing house, banknotes for circulation were produced partly at the British and partly at the German printing houses. Sometime after the initial order of the 100 Lira banknotes printed in Germany, some unapproved series were seen in circulation (*36). Afterwards, the German printing houses were not used and following banknotes were printed by printers in USA.

1943

Monnaies-de-Lux gold coins bearing the portrait of İnönü were minted.

1944

Republican bullion gold coins with the new alphabet were minted in two types; half bearing Atatürk’s half İnönü’s effigy.

25 Kurus small change was no more struck in silver, but in cupronickel instead. This effectively meant a demotion of its status, hence the obverse could not bear Atatürk’s effigy and it was replaced by the crescent and star in the, by then, standardized form. These coins are of an alloy of zinc and bronze and produced by melting surplus artillery shell casings (*Ulus newspaper article by Ziya Tansu dated 14th of March 1948 and *42 p.46)

The word Cumhuriyet (Republic) was also amended into the settled syntax; with both u letters without any umlaut dots (*8).

50 Kr banknotes printed in Germany, part of the 2. emission group were introduced.

1946

500 and 1000 Lira banknotes were released.

1947

Silver 1 Lira and 50 Kurush coins with the obverse bearing crescent and star, and also bronze 1 Kurus coins were released into circulation. These coins were designed by Prof. Emin Barın; a prominent calligrapher of the time. Coins of the lowest denomination were struck with holes in them. All the coins since 1924 were being struck in medallion orientation, the new ones were switched into coin orientation.

3rd emission two and a half (2½) Lira, 50 Lira in the 2nd layout and 4th emission 10 and 100 Lira banknotes were released.

1948

In 1944, 25 Kuruş pieces were struck in bronze and their obverse was matched to those of 1 Lira and 50 Kr coins already in circulation.

Two and a half (2½) Kurush (previously denominated at 100 Para) were minted in bronze with holes.

Half (½) Kuruş pieces were also designed and minted, completing the set of small change with the 1 and 2½ Kurus coins. However, they were not released into circulation. Some were included in the 1949 State Mint Sets and some were kept by the mint workers. It is estimated that there are circa 300 pieces in total (*25), hence they are among the rarest and most valuable coins of the Turkish Republic.

10 Lira 4. emission 2nd type were released.

1949

10 and 5 Kuruş coins bearing the crescent and a star on their obverse were released. The circulation coins set of 1 Lira, 50, 25, 10 and 5 Kuruş gained a layout consistency.

… more to follow

Nesrin Ekşi – Schnepf

Born in 1975, the artist graduated Marmara University Faculty of Fine Arts, Sculpture Programme in 1997.

During her career at the State Mint between 1997 and 2016, she created numerous coins and medals starting with the 5.000.000 Lira gold Dikilitas (the Obelisk of Theodosius) commemorative, which was the second piece of the Istanbul Cultural Heritage serie.

Reverse of the 50 Kr piece in circulation today; depicting the Bosphorus Bridge, is also her handiwork.

Coins she designed and sculpted:

  • 1998 Istanbul Cultural Assets #2 – Dikilitas – Obelisk of Theodosius
  • 1998 75th anniversary of the Turkish Republic Serie
    • Republic and Women
    • Republic and Children
  • 1999 Istanbul Cultural Assets #3 – Tophane Fountain (gold and silver; two coin types)
  • 1999 80th anniversary of Ataturk’s arrival at Samsun on 19th of May 1919
  • 1999 700th anniversary of the Ottoman Empire’s establishemnt / Conquest of Constantinople
  • 2000 First Turkish Pilot – Sabiha Gökçen
  • 2000 Cities of the Antiquity #1 – Ephesus Celsus
  • 2000 Türkiye’s candidacy to European Union membership
  • 2001 23th of April
  • 2001 Traditional Turkish Handcrafts #1 – Iznik Pottery
  • 2001 Turks of the Millenium – Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi
  • 2001 Birds of Türkiye Serie
  • 2002 Ataturk portrait for the circulation 250.000 Lira (*33, p. 33)
  • 2002 Flowers of Türkiye Serie
  • 2002 23th of April
  • 2002 Hagia Sophia Mosque
  • 2002 Istanbul Cultural Assets #4 Hagia Sophia Mosque
  • 2002 Olympic Games – Skiing
  • 2002 Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi
  • 2003 Zeugma
  • 2003 First Turkish European Champion Athlete, Süreyya Ayhan
  • 2003 First Turkish Woman Lawyer, Süreyya Ağaoğlu
  • 2003 550th anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople – Çinili Köşk
  • 2004 Turks of the Millenium – Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror
  • 2005 Ataturk portrait for the 25 Yeni Kurus for circulation (*33, p. 37)
  • 2005 23rd Universiade Games Izmir
  • 2005 Nemrud (bearing the 2003 date)
  • 2005 Animals of Türkiye Serie
    • Anatolian Leopard
    • Kangal Shepard Dog
    • Grizzly Bear
    • Anatolian Wild Sheep
    • Ankara Goat
    • Tailed Dormouse
    • Jerboa
    • Ankara Cat
  • 2006 800th anniversary of Gevher Nesibe Hospital Complex
  • 2006 Solar Eclipse
  • 2006 70th anniversary of Mehmet Akif Ersoy‘s death
  • 2006 Calligrapher Hamid Aytaç
  • 2007 Safranbolu Houses
  • 2007 Kayseri Kültepe – First bronze age – IDOL
  • 2008 Seljuki zodiac representations
    • Aries – Ram
    • Taurus – Bull
    • Gemini – Twins
    • Cancer – Crab
    • Leo – Lion
    • Virgo – Maiden
    • Libra – Scales
    • Scorpio – Scorpion
    • Sagittarius – Archer
    • Capricorn – Goat
    • Aquarius – Water Bearer
    • Pisces – Fish
  • 2008 Traditional Turkish Handcrafts – Miniature
  • 2008 Centenary of Kabataş High School
  • 2008 Çatalhöyük
  • 2008 Yahya Kemal Beyatlı
  • 2008 800th anniversary of the birth of Nasreddin Hoca
  • 2009 Reverse of the circulation coin 50 Kurus bearing the Bosphorus Bridge (*33, p. 44)
  • 2009 Barack Obama’s visit to Türkiye
  • 2009 90th anniversary of Ataturk’s arrival at Samsun on 19th of May 1919
  • 2009 Imperial Eagle & Bearded Vulture 1 TL
  • 2009 World Bank Group Meeting in Istanbul
  • 2009 150th anniversary of Faculty of Political Science, Ankara University
  • 2009 1430th anniversary of Hijrah
  • 2010 90th anniversary of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye
  • 2010 FIBA World Basketball Championship
  • 2010 1400th anniversary of revelation of Qur’an
  • 2010 Ahırkapı Lighthouse
  • 2010 Centenary of Osman Hamdi – Istanbul Archeological Museum
  • 2011 European Youth Olimpics – Trabzon
    • Silver
    • Bronze
  • 2011 5th Universiade Winter Games – Erzurum
    • Skiing
    • Hockey
  • 2011 650th anniversary of Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling
  • 2011 Centenary of Yildiz Technical University
  • 2011 Centenary of the Turkish Airlines
  • 2011 Hejaz Railway – Medina Station
  • 2014 450th anniversary of Matrakcı Nasuh (*1)
  • 2014 First actress, Afife Jale

Medallions she created:

  • 2008 Seljuki medallion
  • 2009 Grand Bazaar Nuruosmaniye Gate medallion bearing the logo of the Turkish Numismatics Association and the Coat of Arms of the Ottoman Empire
  • 2010 European Capital of Culture; Istanbul

[1] Sculptor / artist of some of the commemoratives released by the State Mint, were not announced on the certificates or the newsletters. Designers of such coins are listed only to the extent that we could identify their designer. The list will be updated with new information.

Suat Özyönüm

Born in 1951, the artist enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts in 1974. With encouragement from his professors Şadi Çalık and Hüseyin Gezer, he started working for the State Mint in 1977. However, he quit to focus on his studies. One year after graduating from the academy in 1980,  he again joined the Mint staff. In 1986 he was sent to Italian Mint in Rome on a five-month programme to study contemporary coin making techniques.

Exhibitions he took part in:

  • 1976 yılında Arkeoloji müzeleri açık hava resim sergisine katıldı.
  • 1978 YDGSA Yüksek heykel bölümü öğrenci gurup sergisine katıldı.
  • 1978 yılında Devlet resim heykel sergisine katıldı.
  • 1979 yılında ilk kişisel heykel sergisini Nur Sanat Galerisi’nde açtı.
  • 1979 yılında Devlet resim heykel sergisine katıldı.
  • 1979 yılında 2. Sanat Bayramı etkinliklerine katıldı.
  • 1981 yılında 3.İstanbul Sanat Bayramı “Yeni Eğilimler” Sergisine katıldı.
  • 1981 yılında Maçka sanat galerisi çağdaş karma heykel sergisine katıldı.
  • 1981 yılında Moda Güzel Sanatlar Galerisi’nde karma resim ve heykel sergisine katıldı.
  • 1984 yılında 12.Uluslararası İstanbul Festivali “Günümüz Sanatçıları 5. İstanbul Sergisi” ne katıldı.
  • 1993 yılında Sadberk Hanım Müzesi’nde Özgün Madalyon ve Heykel Sergisi açtı.
  • 1994 yılında Foks Sanat Galerisi’nde heykel sergisi açtı.
  • 2001 Akbank Sanat Merkezi’nde “Cumhuriyetin 78. Yılında Heykelle Buluşma” Sergisine katıldı.

Awards he received:

  • 1979 yılında Osman Hamdi Heykel yarışmasında Birincilik ödülü aldı.
  • 1987 yılında Başbakanlığın açtığı Devlet Madalya ve Nişanları yarışmasında 2 mansiyon kazandı.

Coins he designed and engraved during his tenure at the State Mint:

  • 1977 FAO Herkese Ekmek ve Konut sloganlı akmonital 2½ ve 5 Liralar ile gümüş 50 Lira
  • 1981 Uluslararası Sakatlar Yılı altın 30.000 Lira
  • 1983 FAO 16 Ekim, Dünya Besin Günü gümüş 1.500 Lira
  • 1983 Cumhuriyet’in 60. Yılı (Atatürk profili taşıyan tura tarafı, *1)
  • 1984 1 Lira Atatürk portreli tura tarafı
  • 1984 5 Lira Atatürk portreli tura tarafı
  • 1984 10 Lira Atatürk portreli tura tarafı
  • 1984 50 Lira Atatürk portreli tura tarafı
  • 1984 100 Lira Atatürk portreli tura tarafı
  • 1984 Birleşmiş Milletler Dünya Kadınlarının On Yılı
  • 1984 Türk Kadınına Seçme ve Seçilme Hakkının 50. Yılı
  • 1984 20 Lira Atatürk portreli tura tarafı
  • 1985 25 Lira Atatürk portreli tura tarafı
  • 1985 FAO IX 9. Ormancılık Konferansı – Meksika
  • 1985 Dünya Gençlik Yılı
  • 1986 “Yurtta Sulh Cihanda Sulh” sloganlı Dünya Barış Yılı
  • 1987 Dünya Konut Yılı
  • 1988 50 Lira Atatürk portreli tura tarafı
  • 1988 Meksika Baskısı 100 Lira (*2)
  • 1989 500 Lira Atatürk portreli tura tarafı
  • 1989 Meksika Baskısı 500 Lira
  • 1989 24 Kasım Öğretmenler Günü
  • 1990 1.000 Lira tedavül parasının ön ve arka yüzleri
  • 1990 1.000 Lira “Çevremizi Sevelim Koruyalım”
  • 1991 2.500 Lira tedavül parasının ön ve arka yüzleri
  • 1991 Yunus Emre Sevgi Yılı
  • 1991 Ahmet Adnan Saygun
  • 1992 5.000 Lira tedavül parasının ön ve arka yüzleri
  • 1992 Kış Olimpiyatları – Albertville, Fransa
  • 1992 Yaz Olimpiyatları – Barselona, İspanya
  • 1994 10.000 Lira tedavül parasının ön ve arka yüzleri
  • 1994 Dünya Futbol Şampiyonası – ABD, 50.000 Lira değerinde iki ayrı hatıra para
  • 1995 Korunan Doğa #1 – Kelaynak
  • 1995 T.B.M.M. Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi 75. Yılı
  • 1995 Polis Teşkilatının 150. Yılı
  • 1995 Korunan Doğa #2 – Caretta Caretta
  • 1996 50.000 Lira tedavül parasının ön ve arka yüzleri
  • 1996 Habitat II Kent Zirvesi
  • 1996 Korunan Doğa #3 – Akdeniz Foku
  • 1996 Hulusi Behçet
  • 1996 Korunan Doğa #4 – Kardelen
  • 1997 İstanbul Kültür Varlıkları #1 – Kız Kulesi
  • 1998 Hasan Ali Yücel
  • 1998 Lozan Barış Antlaşması’nın 75. Yılı
  • 1998 Cumhuriyet’in 75. Yılı Setinden:
    • Cumhuriyet ve Lozan
    • Cumhuriyet 2000
  • 1998 2 EURO, 500.000 Lira
  • 1998 10 EURO 2.500.000 Lira
  • 1999 100.000 Lira tedavül parasının ön ve arka yüzleri
  • 1999 Tam Güneş Tutulması temalı iki tip hatıra para
  • 1999 Osmanlı İmparatorluğu’nun Kuruluşunun 700. yılı
    • Osmanlı Arması
    • İlk Osmanlı Parası
    • Osmanlı Minyatür Sanatı
  • 1999 FAO XXI 21. Yüzyıl Gıda Güvenliği (XXI Century Food Security)
  • 2000 Geleneksel Türk Tiyatrosu #1 – Hacivat ve Karagöz
  • 2000 Birleşmiş Milletler Binyıl Zirvesi
  • 2001 Binyılın Türkleri – Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Madalyonu
  • 2001 Cahit Arf
  • 2001 Türkiye’nin Kuşları – Kelaynak (Geronticus Eremita)
  • 2002 Türkiye’nin Çiçekleri – Antalya Süseni (Iris Pamphylica)
  • 2004 Binyılın Türk’leri – Nazım Hikmet Ran
  • 2005 T.B.M.M. Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi 85. Milli Egemenlik Yılı
  • 2005 tedavül paralarından 1, 5 ve 10 Kuruşların tura yüzünde yer alan Atatürk portreleri
  • 2009 tedavül paralarının tamamında (1, 5, 10, 25 ve 50 Kuruş ile 1 Lira) tura yüzünde yer alan, ilk olarak 1984 yılı 1, 5, 10, 20 ve 50 Liralıklarda yer alan Mustafa Kemal Atatürk portresi.

İlk kez 1984 yılı FAO Balıkçılık altın parasının yazı yüzünde kullanılan ve 1984’ten itibaren para setlerinde görülen Darphane logosu kendisinin eseridir (*27, Sf. 73, 74 & 75).

İstanbul Darphanesi Logosu

Darphane’deki diğer eserleri:

  • TBMM Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi madalyonu
  • NATO’nun 40. yıldönümü, “Özgürlük içinde Barış” sloganlı hatıra madalyonu
  • 1990 “İnsanı Sev Çavreni Koru” ve “Herşey İnsan İçindir – Çevre Emanettir” sloganlı madalyon
  • 1998 Habitat II İstanbul Kent Zirvesi madalyonu
  • İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi altın kaplama şehrin anahtarı ve kutusu

 

[1] Paranın yazı yüzünü Hakkı Baha Çavuşgil tasarladı (*27, Sf. 68).

[2] Darphane çalışanları 23 Haziran – 19 Ekim 1988 tarihleri arasında greve gittiklerinden, bazı tedavül paralarını basma işi Meksika Darphanesine ihale edildi. 1988 tarihli 10 Milyon adet 100 Lira ile 1989 tarihli yaklaşık 66 milyon adet 500 Lira, İstanbul’da üretilen kalıplar ile Meksika’da darp edildi. Üretilen tedavül paralarına ek olarak biner adet gümüş 100 ve 500 Lira hatıra para basıldı. Bir süre Darphane bünyesinde saklanan bu hatıra paralar 1995’te kayıtlı koleksiyonerlere, birer adet kontenjan ile satışa sunuldu (*27, Sf. 100).

 

* Cumhuriyet dönemi Türk paralarının tasarımında emeği olan diğer sanatçılar için tıklayın.

İsa Avni Kumuk (1934 ~ 2017)

Isa Avni Kumuk, was born in 1934 in Samsun to a family of Caucasian descent. He was involved with his family business of jevellry-making at the early age of six. He was quite interested and competent in maths during elementary school and and was even nicknamed Pisagor (Pythagoras). after his graduation from high school in 1953, he started his own workshop at the Grand Bazaar as a jevellry-maker and engraver. He was admitted to Istanbul Technical University as the 12th applicant.

He worked for the Turkish State Mint between 1964 and 1976  first as a technical personnel, later as the head of engraving workshop and technical consultant. During his service, he was appointed to examine the Spoonmaker’s Diamond to authenticate and measure its dimensions.

He designed many circulation and commemorative coins after 1970. His technique was compared to Giampaoli‘s.

50 Kurus piece released in 1971 was his handiwork. After visiting an exhibition of traditional Anatolian clothes, administrators of the mint asked him to come up with a portrait of a woman in traditional Anatolian head dress. The owner of said exhibition Sabiha Tansug was photographed in the Ankara Headpiece, but in order not to portrait any significant person, Avni Kumuk cut out her face and completed the portrait with an imaginary average Turkish woman.

 

Around 1976, the head of the State mint – also a prominent poet Cemal Süreya –  was instructed to decommission old machinery of the mint. Avni Kumuk convinced him to keep the machinery for display.

After his work at the Mint had ended, in 1982, he started his own company called International Goldart İstanbul, and produced over 700 medals, badges, pins and emblems ordered by several private companies and Turkish Numismatics Association. He received several awards by Turkish and international, private and public institutions.

Commemorative and circulation coins he designed and produced:

1970:

  • 25 Lira silver coin commemorating the 50th anniversary of the TBMM – Grand National Assembly of Turkey
  • Acmonital 2½ Lira with the obverse bearing Ataturk on a tractor; minted part of the FAO programme.

1971:

  • 50 Lira silver coin commemorating 900 years of  Battle of Manzikert
  • Bronze 10 Kr, Ataturk on a tractor; part of FAO programme,
  • Acmonital 50 Kr circulation piece with a woman wearing Anatolian headdrress.

1972:

  • silver 50 Lira commemorating 50th anniversary of the Victory of August the 30th
  • golden medals commemorating victory of Battle of Dumlupınar

1973:

  • 50 and 100 Lira silver and 500 Lira gold coins commemorating 50th anniversary of the Republic

1974:

  • 5 Lira circulation piece bearing Ataturk’s statue in Samsun

1975:

  • Aluminium 5 Kurus part of FAO programme

1976:

  • Aluminium 5 and 10 Kr and acmonital 5 Lira of the FAO series

1978:

  • FAO acmonital 50 Kurus, 1 and 2½ Lira
  • FAO acmonital 5 Lira and silver 150 Lira
  • FAO gold 500 Lira,
  • FAO gold 1.000 Lira

1979:

  • FAO  bronze and aluminium 1 Kuruş
  • FAO acmonital 50 Kuruş and 1 Lira,
  • FAO acmonital 2½ and 5, also silver 150 Lira
  • FAO gold 500 Lira,
  • FAO gold 1.000 Lira,

1980:

  • FAO bronze 10, acmonital 50 Kurus and 1 Lira,
  • FAO gold 500 Lira

Some of the medals he produced:

for the Turkish Armed Forces:

  • First and Second degree Honour Medals
  • First and Second degree Pride Medals
  • Medal of Distinguished Service
  • First and Second degree War Medals
  • Emblem of the Turkish Army (Turkish Land Forces)
  • Turkish Army commemorative medallion

for various establishments:

  • commemorative medallion for the 500th anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople / İstanbul
  • commemorative medallion for the inauguration of 15 July Martyrs Bridge (named Bosphorus Bridge when first opened)
  • commemorative medallion for the inauguration of Haliç (Golden Horn) Bridge
  • medallion commemorating Saudi King Faisal’s visit to Türkiye
  • medallion commemorating Islamic Conference in Istanbul

Avni Kumuk was also interested in painting, he was not only a skillful artist, but also a competent engineer. After the intervention to Cyprus by Turkey in 1974, he contributed to complicated parts the defence industry needed and that had to be domestically produced.

He was a member of the industrial advisory committee of ITU Mechanical Engineering Faculty. He assisted many public and private companies with their intricate designs of parts and dyes.

Father of 2 sons, Avni Kumuk worked until his last minute with the principle of giving back to the society.

 

Click here for a page dedicated to Avni Kumuk’s works.

*We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the family of the artist, for their invaluable contribution to this article.

Etem Hamdi Tem (1895 ~1971)

Etem Hamdi Tem, served as a reserve officer during the War of Independence. As he also owned a camera (a rare commodity at the time), he also served as a war photographer. After the war, he was one of the priviliged photographers of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

His most famous shot is of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk at Kocatepe, on the eve of the Great Offensive. His posture was used on many sculptures, monuments and also coins.

Pietro Giampaoli (1898 ~ 1998)

Portrait of Atatürk by P. Giampaoli

Giampaoli was as a consultant to the Turkish State Mint and was the designer of the Ataturk effigy on the coins starting with the 1 Lira of 1957.

Same portrait was also used on the 10 Lira of 1960 silver commmemorative 10 Lira pieces.also on the 25.000.000 coin minted in 1998 as part of the 75th anniversary of the republic(*27, Page. 183).

He worked at the Italian Mint between 1936  and 1963. designed many Italian coins as well as medals and coins for Vatican, San Marino and Malta. He consulted Germany, France, Spain, Israel and Tunisia.

Rather recent auction pieces indicate that he also worked on 25 Kurus coins bearing Ataturk’s portrait but eventually the figure of an Anatolian woman carrying an artillery shell was used for those coins. His signature in its Latinisized form (J. Pvlvs) can be seen below the portrait.

There are auto-portraits of Giampaoli on medals(*1) where his name is Latinified. The page describes his resoning for using thistle on his self medals as “In the language of flowers and plants, the thistle symbolizes solitude and isolation and this meaning is due to the tendency of this plant to grow in inaccessible places. An ability to make one’s way through difficulties – yet “not without effort”, indeed.”

His brother Celestino Giampaoli also was affiliated with the Turkish State Mint (*2) during the period which acmonital (Acciaio Monetale Italiano / Italian monetary steel) was used for Turkish coins. It is a variant of stainless steel that is harder than silver or cupronickel hence requires specific machinery for processing.

[1] https://www.cronacanumismatica.com/un-refuso-due-medaglie-e-limpresa-del-maestro-giampaoli

[2] https://www.dizionariobiograficodeifriulani.it/giampaoli-pietro-celestino-e-vittorio

Percy Metcalfe (1895 ~ 1970)

Percy Metcalfe
Percy Metcalfe, CVO, RDI,
Photo by Bassano Ltd  © National Portrait Gallery, London

His name is first mentioned in Turkish numismatics literature as “Sculptor of the London Mint; Mr. Medkaley“ in the 1955 Catalogue by Turkish numismatist and actor Behzad Butak.

Behzat Butak quotes “Mister Medkaley” from a proceedings report of GNAT (Grand National Assembly of Türkiye) from 1944.

(While the forms of the new Republican gold coins were being discussed, Finance Minister Fuat Ağralı elaborates that Metcalfe was invited for the effigy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and that he also made an effigy of İsmet İnönü. Upon criticism on why a foreigner was tasked to create the president’s effigy, Metcalfe’s skillset as a coin engraver is emphasized) His name is misspelled most probably due to a transliteration error.

Royal Mint’s involvement with the Turkish coins, dates back to 1933. In September of that year, Deputy Master and Controller of the Royal Mint, Sir Robert Johnson visited Istanbul and the capital Ankara. He had learned that the Turkish Gov’t was planning of minting new coins with the new alphabet, hence he offered Royal Mint’s services to the Turkish Government. But was not successful in securing an order for minting the new coins. However, the relations between the two mints remained active and Percy Metcalfe visited Turkey in 1935 (*Royal Mint Annual Report of 1934, Page 17).

He was meant to produce an effigy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, however he was requested to work on designs for the whole set of six coins.

Turkish circulation coins that bear Metcalfe’s designs:

  • 50 Kuruş 1935 ~1937
  • 25 Kuruş 1935 ~1946 (The 25 Kr pieces minted between 1944 to 1946 retained the same reverse as Metcalfe designed, however their obverse was changed to a crescent and star)
  • 10 Kuruş 1935 ~1940
  • 5 Kuruş 1935 ~1943
  • 1 Kuruş 1935 ~1944 (after 1938, these coins were converted into an undulated form)
  • 1 Lira 1937 ~ 1939
  • 1 Lira 1940 ~ 1941

Metcalfe’s family donated some of his work to the British Museum. Among those, there are the early drafts of the 1935 coins’ designs:

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/AUTH232341

1935 10, 5 ve 1 Kuruş Tura yüzü deseni.© The Trustees of the British Museum
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/1613746593 © The Trustees of the British Museum
100 Kuruş 1935 taslak Deseni© The Trustees of the British Museum
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/1613746587 © The Trustees of the British Museum
100 Kuruş 1935 taslak© The Trustees of the British Museum
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/1613746592 © The Trustees of the British Museum
1 Lira 1935 Taslak deseni© The Trustees of the British Museum
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/1613746588 © The Trustees of the British Museum
50 Kuruş 1935 taslak deseni© The Trustees of the British Museum
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/1613746581 © The Trustees of the British Museum
25 Kuruş 1935 taslak deseni© The Trustees of the British Museum
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/1613746589 © The Trustees of the British Museum
5 Kuruş 1935 desen taslağı, © The Trustees of the British Museum
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/1613746590 © The Trustees of the British Museum

The newspapers of the period, indicate that several coin designs were considered at the time. 50 Kr piece was initially a variant of the 1934 100 Kr piece by Ali Cemal Bey. However, eventually Metcalfe’s designs were used; probably for consistency within the set.

 

RMAC papers of the Royal Mint have a record of a 1 Lira model depicting a stylized art-deco wolf from 1935. Around that time, the denomination of 100 Kurus was being changed as 1 Lira.

The models of the said design are kept by the Royal Mint Museum archives. Records show that it was criticised in-house (RMAC Papers dated 31/10/1935) and was minted only in a couple of samples for the evaluation.

Grey Wolf was indeed a Turkish symbol and was used on some of the first banknotes. It was even considered to be a main figure as an emblem for the Turkish Republic. However, Atatürk rejected that idea, hence such coins were never minted.

Royal Mint Annual Report of 1938 also mentions (*page 16) that Metcalfe won a contest for the new gold coins’ design but Sir Johnson states that he believes after Ataturk’s death those coins would probably not be minted.

Yet, Royal Mint Museum holds models of the effigy of İsmet İnönü (second president of the Turkish Republic), and the gold and silver coins minted after 1940 bear that effigy by Metcalfe.

 

Form comparison between 1938 second type 1 Kr and Egyptian 5 Milliemmes

1 Kurus pieces minted between 1938 and 1944, were in an undulated form so that they wouldn’t be confused with the silver 25 Kr pieces of the same diameter. Said coins resemble the coins of Iraq and Egypt, which were made by Metcalfe. This could be interpreted as the cooperation between the British and the Turkish Mints was still active at the time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percy Metcalfe, served in the Royal Mint from 1924 to 1948. Effigies of King George VI and many other nations’ rulers were his handywork. among his most famous were the Barnyard Set made for Free Irish State.

As a new dominion, Free Irish State considered having its own currency. For this purpose, an international competition was held in 1926. among 66 submissions, Metcalfe’s designs were selected. The animals, which some are related to hunting and some to farming, were assigned face value based on their status; the horse being the noblest and the woodcock being the humblest.

At first there was significant criticism that a nation seeking independence from the English rule is now going forward with coins “designed by an Englishman, denominated in the English way, and made at the English mint“. However, as Nobel laureate Yeats puts it “the coins have been designed to please those who look longer at each coin than anybody else; artists and children”, hence they were universally admired.

 

Coin set of Free Irish State; woodcock (farthing), pig and piglets (halfpenny), hen and chicks (penny), hare (threepence), wolfhound (sixpence), bull (shilling), salmon (florin) and horse (half crown). Collectively known as the Barnyard Collection

During his time at the Royal Mint, with the reputation he gained from the Free Irish State coinage and the support from Sir Robert Johnson, Percy Metcalfe produced many models for various countries. Some of these are; Mihai the 1st of Romania, Boris the 3rd of Bulgaria, Faisal and Ghazi of Iraq, Fuad and Farouq of Egypt, Demeter and Poseidon portraits on the Greek coins of 1930.

 

Article main photo; Percy Metcalfe working on plaster model of Boris the 3rd of Bulgaria Photo: HenryMooreInstitute

*We would like to thank World of Coins forum users <k>, africancoins and forum admin Peter Kraneveld for providing the fundamental lead on Percy Metcalfe’s contributions to the Turkish coins and also David Mason, Public Engagement & Information Officer and other staff of the Royal Mint Museum who provided invaluable information on Metcalfe’s work within their archives.

Mazhar Nazım Resmor (1901 ~ 1977)

Mazhar Nazım was one of the winning contestants of the coin design competition of 1934, organized for the cupronickel small change.

His models for the obverse were chosen but not realized.

Mazhar Nazım studied arts in Academy of Fine Arts and later masted on stained glass at the Decorative Arts Institute of Paris. After his return to Türkiye in 1933, he taught arts and crafts at Applied Fine Arts High School and Institute of Fine Arts for Girls (*source – TR).

 

 

For the reverse of the coins, Architect Nurettin‘s submission was chosen but not realised.

Minting the new coins could not be realized in 1934 and as relations with the Royal Mint deepened, Percy Metcalfe‘s designs were used on the coinage of 1935.

Vedat Ömer Ar (1907 ~ 2001)

Vedat Ömer Ar was tone of the first place winners of the contest organized for 100 Kuruş 1934.

His model for the reverse of the coin won first place. For the obverse, the effigy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk made by Mesrur İzzet Bey was selected by the jury. Both were awarded 1000 Lira each. However, the second place models were also sent to Ankara for consideration and eventually the models of the Artist Ali Cemal Bey were selected for the coins.

Vedat Ömer Ar, studied graphics in the Fine Arts Academy (today named Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts) and was sent to France for further education after his graduation. Upon his return, he tought at the Academy as a contemporary of Prof. Emin Barın and Namık Bayık who have also designed cons for the State Mint.

Ayaktakiler, soldan: Edip Hakkı, Emin Barın, Namık Bayık, Gevher Bozkurt, Günseli Başar, Sabih Gözen, Bilge Hanım, Hayati Gökay, Aktan Bey, Ramiz Bey.Oturanlar, soldan; Vedat Ar, Necmettin Hoca, Kenan Tenizan, Zeki Faik İzer, Tahirzade...
Standing, left-to-right: Edip Hakkı, Emin Barın, Namık Bayık, Gevher Bozkurt, Günseli Başar, Sabih Gözen, Bilge Hanım, Hayati Gökay, Aktan Bey, Ramiz Bey. Seated; left-to-right; Vedat Ar, Necmettin Hoca, Kenan Tenizan, Zeki Faik İzer, Tahirzade… (Seramik Dünyası Magazine, March & April issue of 1996. p19 the article about Vedat Ar by Hande Kura

He studied ceramics making in France and after his return, he became a professor at the Academy. Later he worked in stage decoration, animation, advertisement and documentary production. Died on 12 March 2001.

Vedat Ömer monogram, made of his initials and forms an owl

Some of his works are exhibited at the Painting and Sculpture Museum of Istanbul

İstanbul Resim Heykel Müzesindeki “Balık” adlı eseri

Ahmet Mesrur Durum (1873 ~ 1952)

Designer of the last coins of the Ottoman Empire and also the first coin series of the Turkish Republic minted between 1924 – 1928.

Also known as Mesrur İzzet Bey, he has been serving the Istanbul Mint since 1905 and is also the designer of the Turkish Medal of Independance.

Has studied sculpture in Fine Arts School (later called “Istanbul Fine Arts Academy, today named Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University).

He has worked on several fields such as sculpture, paintings, philately and numismatics, and has designed a significant amount of medals for various establishments.

The Republican Era coins he has designed are:

  • 100 Para 1924 ~1928
  • 5 Kuruş 1924 ~1928
  • 10 Kuruş 1924 ~1928
  • 25 Kuruş (nikel) 1925 ~1928
  • 25 Kuruş (1/4 Altın Lira, Meskuk) 1926 ~1929
  • 25 Kuruş (1/4 Altın Lira, Ziynet) 1927 ~1928
  • 50 Kuruş (1/2 Altın Lira, Meskuk) 1926 ~1929
  • 50 Kuruş (1/2 Altın Lira, Ziynet) 1927 ~1928
  • 1 Lira (Ankara Gold Bullion) 1926 ~1929
  • 1 Lira (Gold, Monnaies de Luxe) 1927 ~1928
  • 2,5 Lira (Ankara Gold Bullion) 1926 ~1929
  • 2,5 Lira (Gold, Monnaies de Luxe) 1927 ~1928
  • 5 Lira (Ankara Gold Bullion) 1925 ~1929
  • 5 Lira (Gold, Monnaies de Luxe) 1927 ~1928
  • 10 Para 1936 (This smallest denomination coin was exempt from the contests of 1934, first drafts were announced in 1934. Newspapers and the magazines published photo of the models but it was introduced into circulation firstly in 1940.
  • 2005 Yılı 50 Yeni Kuruş (New Kurus) obverse bearing Atatürk facing right is also based on a reused model from his works of 1933.

His life and works are published in detail in a two volume book by Celil Ender & Orhan Okay (2003 & 2004 Turkish Numismatics Society Publications)