Obverse. Photo © acsaerch.info
  • 1/2 Zeri Mahbub 1790-1809, KM# 140, Egypt, Eyalet / Khedivate, Selim III
  • 1/2 Zeri Mahbub 1790-1809, KM# 140, Egypt, Eyalet / Khedivate, Selim III
Description

Selim III (1761–1808) was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1789 to 1807. Regarded as an enlightened ruler, the Janissaries eventually deposed and imprisoned him, and placed his cousin Mustafa on the throne as Mustafa IV. Selim was subsequently killed by a group of assassins.

After Abdul Hamid's death, Selim succeeded him on 7 April 1789, not yet 27 years old. Sultan Selim III was very fond of literature and calligraphy; many of his works were put on the walls of mosques and convents. He wrote many poems, especially about Crimea's occupation by Russia. He spoke Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Old Bulgarian fluently. Selim III showed great importance to patriotism and religion. He demonstrated his skills in poetry, music and was fond of fine arts and the army.

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.

Obverse

Tughra in Selim III name, Ottoman Turkish legend "Struck in Egypt" and the accession year in Hejira (AH1203) below, knot as an initial mark.

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.

سليم خان بن مصطفى
عز نصره ضرب في
مصر سنة
١٢٠٣

Reverse

Depicts 4-line Arabic legend: Sultan of the two lands, Khaqan (emperor) of the two seas, the sultan son of the sultan, the year of the Sultan's reign (٢) at the 3rd line.

سلطان البرين
وخاقان البحرين
السلطان بن (٢)
السلطان

Edge
Characteristics
Production Hammering
Material Gold
Weight 1.33 g
Diameter 19 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Mint
Misr Mint

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