Obverse. Photo © acsaerch.info
  • 1/2 Zinjirli Altin 1731, KM# 85, Egypt, Eyalet / Khedivate, Mahmud I the Hunchback
  • 1/2 Zinjirli Altin 1731, KM# 85, Egypt, Eyalet / Khedivate, Mahmud I the Hunchback
Description

Mahmud I (1696– 1754), known as Mahmud the Hunchback, was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1730 to 1754. He took over the throne after the Patrona Halil rebellion and he kept good relations with the Mughal and Safavid Empires.

The Eyalet of Egypt operated as an administrative division of the Ottoman Empire from 1517 to 1867. It originated as a result of the conquest of Mamluk Egypt by the Ottomans in 1517, following the Ottoman–Mamluk War (1516–17) and the absorption of Syria into the Empire in 1516. Egypt always proved a difficult province for the Ottoman Sultans to control, due in part to the continuing power and influence of the Mamluks, the Egyptian military caste who had ruled the country for centuries.

The word zinjirli (“chain-like”) refers to the fine-linked border but the coin was affectionately known as funduq or fındık (“hazelnut”), Yarim (half) in Uzbek.

Weight varies 1.65-1.70 g

Obverse

Tughra in Mahmud I name, knots and ornaments, within a roped border, the outer border of small ornaments.

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.

محمود خان بن مصطفى مظفر دائما

Reverse

Ottoman Turkish legend "Struck in Egypt" and the accession year in Hejira (AH1143) below with mystic knot above, the year of the Sultan's reign (ن) next to date.

ضرب في
مصر
سنة
١١٤٣ (ن)

Edge

1/2 Zinjirli Altin (Yarim Zinjirli Altin)

Eyalet
KM# 85
Characteristics
Material Gold
Weight 1.7 g
Diameter 14 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Misr Mint

Related coins

Aluminium Bronze, 2 g, ⌀ 18 mm

Aluminium Bronze, 4.9 g, ⌀ 23 mm

Aluminium Bronze, 4.9 g, ⌀ 23 mm