Obverse. Photo © Auctiones GmbH
  • 50 Qirsh 1876, KM# 271, Egypt, Eyalet / Khedivate, Murad V
  • 50 Qirsh 1876, KM# 271, Egypt, Eyalet / Khedivate, Murad V
Description

Murad V (1840–1904) was the 33rd Sultan of the Ottoman Empire who reigned from 30 May to 31 August 1876.

Murad took part in the deposition of Abdulaziz. On the night of 29–30 May 1876, the committee led by the statesman Midhat Pasha, the leading statesman of the Ottoman Tanzimat era, and the Minister of War, Hüseyin Avni Pasha, deposed Abdulaziz and raised Murad to the throne.

Though he successfully acceded to the throne, he was not capable of maintaining his place. He struggled to appear normal in his new role, so at odds with his previously quiet life of dabbling in music. His weak nerves, combined with alcoholism, led to a mental breakdown. Murad began to manifest bizarre behaviour that preceded his complete collapse. The Ottoman government deposed him on 31 August 1876, after reigning for only ninety-three days on the grounds that he was mentally ill.

The Khedivate of Egypt (1867–1914) was an autonomous tributary state of the Ottoman Empire, established and ruled by the Muhammad Ali Dynasty following the defeat and expulsion of Napoleon Bonaparte's forces which brought an end to the short-lived French occupation of Lower Egypt. The Khedivate of Egypt had also expanded to control present-day Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Greece, Cyprus, southern and central Turkey, and northwestern Saudi Arabia.

Obverse

Tughra in Murad V name, value below, with flower at right.

A tughra (Ottoman Turkish: طغرا‎ tuğrâ) is a calligraphic monogram, seal or signature of a sultan that was affixed to all official documents and correspondence. It was also carved on his seal and stamped on the coins minted during his reign. Tughras served a purpose similar to the cartouche in ancient Egypt or the Royal Cypher of British monarchs, every Ottoman sultan had his own individual tughra.

مراد خان بن عبد المجيد مظفر دائما
٥٠
ش

Reverse

Arabic legend with the year of the Sultan's reign on top and Ottoman Turkish legend "Struck in Egypt" and the accession year in Hejira (AH1293) below.

The date of the accession is accepted as the first year and is called "cülüs". The issuing date is a sum of the accession and regnal years minus 1.

١
ضرب في
مصر
١٢٩٣

Edge

50 Qirsh (Piastres)

Khedivate, Tughra with flower
KM# 271 Fr# 16a
Characteristics
Material Gold
Fineness 0.875
Weight 4.27 g
Diameter 17 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Misr Mint

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