How to Identify the Ottoman 20 Kurus

What This Coin Is

The Ottoman 20 Kurus is a silver coin issued by the Ottoman Empire, commonly seen under sultans such as Abdulmecid, Abdulaziz, Abdulhamid II, and Mehmed V during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Kurus (also spelled piastres) was a standard Ottoman currency unit, and the 20 Kurus denomination represented a substantial silver coin used in everyday and larger commerce across the empire's vast territories.

Obverse Design & Inscriptions

The obverse features the sultan's elaborate calligraphic tughra, an ornamental monogram signature unique to each ruler, rendered in flowing Arabic-script lines rather than a portrait, since Ottoman coinage traditionally avoided depicting human figures. Surrounding the tughra is Arabic-script text noting the sultan's accession year and regnal year of striking.

Reverse Design & Inscriptions

The reverse typically states the mint location in Arabic script, most often "Konstantiniye" (Constantinople) for the imperial mint, along with the denomination and additional regnal year information. Decorative floral or geometric borders often frame the central inscription.

Size, Weight, Metal, and Edge

The 20 Kurus is a substantial silver coin, generally in the range of 30-36 mm depending on the exact period, with fineness and weight varying somewhat by sultan and era as the empire adjusted its coinage standards. The edge is usually reeded, consistent with standard milled coinage of the period.

Mint Marks and Where to Find Them

Because the mint name is written out fully in Arabic script on the reverse rather than abbreviated into a small symbol, identifying the mint means reading this inscription directly rather than searching for a small letter or symbol. The regnal year, indicating how many years into the sultan's reign the coin was struck, appears alongside the mint name and accession year on the obverse.

Telling It Apart From Similar Coins

Ottoman coins of different denominations share the same general tughra-and-inscription format, so the key to identifying a 20 Kurus specifically is the denomination text on the reverse combined with the coin's larger size compared to smaller kurus fractions. Comparing the exact tughra artwork also helps distinguish which sultan issued the coin, since each ruler's monogram has a distinct calligraphic shape.

Judging Condition at a Glance

Examine the fine curling lines of the tughra and the sharpness of the Arabic script for wear, since intricate calligraphic detail is the first area to blur with circulation. A coin with crisp, legible script throughout is in notably better condition than one with worn, indistinct lettering.

Authenticity Red Flags

Be cautious of coins with blurred or poorly formed script, since genuine tughra designs have precise, flowing calligraphic lines that are difficult to reproduce accurately in a cast copy. Also check the coin's weight and diameter against known standards for the specific sultan and date, as inconsistencies can indicate an altered or counterfeit piece.