Tag: Percy Metcalfe

Artists whose designs were used on Turkish currency

We compiled the list of artists who created the designs of the coins and banknotes of Republic of Türkiye.

Most of the coins were produced by artists employed by the Mint, and most of the banknotes by the engravers of the Central Bank’s Banknote Print, yet in the early periods of the Republic, foreign experts were consulted and the works of artists participating in occasional competitions have also taken place on commemorative and circulation coins.

Artists whose designs were used on Turkish currency:

(dates in brackets indicate the year which the artist’s first design was released into circulation.)

Artists who were awarded degrees in competitions, but whose designs were not used on coins:

Artists whose artwork is used on currency indirectly:

*designers of some of the coins and most of the banknotes are missing from the list. It will be updated as new information surfaces.

cover photo: 2018 annual report of the Turkish State Mint

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

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 emphasised) 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.

In the 20th issue of the Anatolian Numismatic Bulletin, Mr. Nurüddin Gürpınar, in his article titled “Cumhuriyet Altınlarımız” (Our Republic Gold Coins), also provides information about the artist whose name was mentioned during the Turkish Grand National Assembly discussions regarding the Gold Coins bearing the effigy of President İsmet İnönü.

 

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.

Architect Nurettin

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

His models for the reverse were chosen but not realized.

For the obverse of the coins, Mazhar Nazım Resmor‘s submission was chosen but not realized.

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.

One of the coins minted commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Republic is listed to be the artwork of a Nureddin from 1933. It is highly probable that it is the same person.

 

 

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.

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 Independence.

He studied sculpture at the Fine Arts School (later called “Istanbul Fine Arts Academy, today named Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University).

He has worked in several fields, including sculpture, painting, 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 (bullion Gold, Monnaies de Luxe) 1927 ~1928
  • 2,5 Lira (Ankara Gold Bullion) 1926 ~1929
  • 2,5 Lira (bullion Gold, Monnaies de Luxe) 1927 ~1928
  • 5 Lira (Ankara Gold Bullion) 1925 ~1929
  • 5 Lira (bullion 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)