Help with a coin-brooch ...

TwoKopeiki

My neighbour showed me a coin-brooch. I recognized the toughra on the obverse, but after checking Krause for AH1293 Egyptians - I came up without a match. The denomination seems to be "3", but don't think it's Quirsh.

Any thoughts?

newsman

It's Turkish, Constantinople mint. The "3" is part of the date (AH1293 = accession date, 3 = regnal year). Can't tell what denomination, though I'd guess five qirsh.

tbirde56

It appears to be Turkey KM722, a 20 kurush with the AD equivalent date of 1878.

TwoKopeiki

Thanks, Tbirde! I'll let my neighbour know what he has.

It's a neat piece, too bad it has been damaged by being turned into a brooch

BigAlan

The "toughra" was a stylized thumbprint originally used to sign papers, some of the sultans couldn't read or write.

TwoKopeiki

To add to BigAlan's post:



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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A toughra, is an ornate calligraphic design, which signifies a sultan of the Ottoman Empire. It is a highly stylized form of Islamic calligraphy , and consists of three vertical lines, and several swirls that wrap around them.

The toughra may have originated with the 14th century Sultan Murad I, who, while signing a treaty, dipped three fingers in an inkwell, and signed his name with a flourish.

Embedded in each toughra is the Sultan's name, his father's name, and his title.

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A definite for yet another fascinating historic tidbit learned through numismatics!