Islamic Caligraphy and Numismatic - ID Help with three odd coins

Radu Transylvanicus · 18th February 2005, 08:27 AM

Enigma was eluded, thank you Yannis, great job, Rasdan and TVV, you put me on right track, Turkish silver coinage from late 18th century, from the times of Sultan Selim III, Islamic years AH.1203-22, Christian years AD.1789-1807. Very interesting, even though alltogether from an investment value they are worth very little, more or less around $ USD 90:

PIECES # 1 & 2 are silver Ottoman [I]"yüzlük" [/I] or 100 piasters coins FRONT: inscription reads: Sültanül berreyni ve hakanül bahreini essultan bin essultan, 9 that translates: ,,Sultan of the two continents and Qaghan of the two seas, the Sultan, son of a Sultan, in the 9th year of reign" verso : the [I]tughra[/] (caligraphic signature of a Turkish rulling class) of Sultan Selim III and inscription: duribe fi Islambol 1203 translates as: minted in (?) Istanbul 1789 (coresponding to the Islamic year 1203) .

PIECE # 3 is an Ottoman ikilik or [B]çifte kurush[B], a silver two piasters coin valueing 100 para. Back side : the tughra of Sultan Selim III . Front side: inscription reads: duribe fi Islambol 1203, 9 and translates from Turkish as : minted in Istanbul (?) 1789, in the 9th year of reign.

Sultan Selim III was a reformer by nature, thing that brought his end when he did that to the Janissaries who turned against him and took his life after briefly imprisoning him. His reforming measures where much needed in order to establish control in a giant Empire stretching over so much geopolitical field.
He was first to consider European models as it was the great era of Napoleon and admiral Nelson which whom he fought unsucesfully during his reign. He was strangely enough born on Christmas day, 24th Dec 1761 and died in July 1808. The two picture are his portrait and on right is one of his muskets and flask , the cup is an English trophy part of owner`s collection not related.

18th February 2005, 08:27 AM	#6
Radu Transylvanicus Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: 2008-2010 Bali, 1998-2008 USA Posts: 271	Inshallah Enigma was eluded, thank you Yannis, great job, Rasdan and TVV, you put me on right track, Turkish silver coinage from late 18th century, from the times of Sultan Selim III, Islamic years AH.1203-22, Christian years AD.1789-1807. Very interesting, even though alltogether from an investment value they are worth very little, more or less around $ USD 90: PIECES # 1 & 2 are silver Ottoman [I]"yüzlük" [/I] or 100 piasters coins FRONT: inscription reads: Sültanül berreyni ve hakanül bahreini essultan bin essultan, 9 that translates: ,,Sultan of the two continents and Qaghan of the two seas, the Sultan, son of a Sultan, in the 9th year of reign" verso : the [I]tughra[/] (caligraphic signature of a Turkish rulling class) of Sultan Selim III and inscription: *duribe fi Islambol 1203* translates as: minted in (?) Istanbul 1789 (coresponding to the Islamic year 1203) . PIECE # 3 is an Ottoman ikilik or [B]çifte kurush[B], a silver two piasters coin valueing 100 para. Back side : the tughra of Sultan Selim III . Front side: inscription reads: duribe fi Islambol 1203, 9 and translates from Turkish as : minted in Istanbul (?) 1789, in the 9th year of reign. Sultan Selim III was a reformer by nature, thing that brought his end when he did that to the Janissaries who turned against him and took his life after briefly imprisoning him. His reforming measures where much needed in order to establish control in a giant Empire stretching over so much geopolitical field. He was first to consider European models as it was the great era of Napoleon and admiral Nelson which whom he fought unsucesfully during his reign. He was strangely enough born on Christmas day, 24th Dec 1761 and died in July 1808. The two picture are his portrait and on right is one of his muskets and flask , the cup is an English trophy part of owner`s collection not related. Attached Images Last edited by Radu Transylvanicus; 18th February 2005 at 07:18 PM.