Obverse. Photo © acsaerch.info
  • 2 Zeri Mahbub 1765-1772, KM# 110, Egypt, Eyalet / Khedivate, Mustafa III
  • 2 Zeri Mahbub 1765-1772, KM# 110, Egypt, Eyalet / Khedivate, Mustafa III
Description

Mustafa III (1717–1774) was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1757 to 1774. He was a son of Sultan Ahmed III (1703–30), and his consort Mihrişah Kadın. He was succeeded by his brother Abdul Hamid I (1774–89).

Ali Bey al-Kabir (1728–1773) was a Mamluk leader in Egypt. Nicknamed Jinn Ali ("Ali the Devil") and Bulut Kapan ("Cloud-Catcher"), Ali Bey rose to prominence in 1768 when he rebelled against his Ottoman rulers, making the Egypt Eyalet of the Ottoman Empire independent for a short time. His rule ended following the insubordination of his most trusted general, Abu al-Dahab, which led to Ali Bey's downfall and death.

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 Mustafa III name, Ottoman Turkish legend "Struck in Egypt" and the accession year in Hejira (AH1171) below, 3 lines of Arabic script, 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.

سلطان مصطفى بن
احمد خان عز نصره
ضرب في مصر
١١٧١

Reverse

3 lines of Arabic script legend with the year of the Sultan's reign below: Striker of victory, the owner of the glory and victory on land and sea. the year of the Sultan's reign (٩ ) at the 3rd line.

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.

ضارب النصر
صاحب العز و النصر في
البر والبحر(٩)

Edge
Characteristics
Material Gold
Weight 5.2 g
Diameter 34 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Misr Mint

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