19th century Ottoman banknote shows up for the first time since circulation

19th century Ottoman banknote shows up for the first time since circulation

A banknote printed more than 160 years ago was exhibited for the first time by a Turkish collector in Ankara on Friday.

The 500 kuruş bill, printed in 1851 during the Ottoman Empire's Sultan Abdülmecid I's reign, was only known by its printing block, since no originally printed bill reached the present day.

19th century Ottoman banknote shows up for the first time since circulation

The owner of the bill, researcher and writer Necati Doğan, said that the bill first went into circulation in 1840 with the name "Kaime-i Nakdiye-i Mütebere" (Recognised Monetary Banknote).

Doğan said that first emission money was written by hand during Sultan Abdülmecid I's period, and emissions later than 1841 were printed.

19th century Ottoman banknote shows up for the first time since circulation

According to Doğan, the early 500 kuruş bills did not reach our day because they were called in and destroyed en masse.

19th century Ottoman banknote shows up for the first time since circulation

The value of the banknote and Sultan Abdülmecid's flower-covered embossed seal, known as tughra, is visible on the front side of the bill.

19th century Ottoman banknote shows up for the first time since circulation

The back side shows the seal of the then Finance Minister Abdurrahman Nafiz.

The 13.4 x 19.7 centimeter (5.27 x 7.75 inch) sized bill is considerably thinner than contemporary banknotes, Doğan said.