ottoman coin female help???

[Salem Alshdaifat]

hi Folks
I know it is Ottoman coins, and I think I can read EGYPT retograd at the coin, any farther help plz?

[Manzikert]

Hi Salem

I think this is another of those thin brass 'coins' produced to be sewn on women's clothing and headdresses in Ottoman and ottoman influenced areas.

The 'reverse' is obviously based on the obverse of the hariye altin series of Mahmud II (years 21-26, c1828-33) from Turkey (or less possibly the zeri mahbub series of years 21-28 (c.1828-1835) from Egypt), but the use of a female head on the 'obverse' is extraordinary and I have never seen one of these before. I do have a small copy of the hariye altin which has the same 'pince-nez' glasses symbol as is under the tougra on this piece, possibly made by the same person.

On the obverse I see ME[hole]AILI before the bust, and as you say I think the inscription behind the bust is probably something like TPYGE FO for OF EGYPT engraved backwards.

A fascinating piece, even if not really a coin.

Best wishes

Alan

[Istinpolin]

Hi Salem

Interesting coin. Unfortunately not an official coin, as Alan already said, but rather a brass piece for belly dancind garmets. There were many of such pieces on a garmet so they make a clinging sound when the dancer is dancing.

This particular one is Greek. The obverse, always the side with the Tugra or Sultans name on Ottoman coins (so the bottom image), is a an imitation of a II. Mahmudi Hayriye Altin with an Abdulhamid Tugra but with Elgazi addition to the Tugra, which does not make any sense. Hayriye coins did not exist with Abdulhamid and Abdulhmid was not of the Elgazi house. The reverse shows a Greek princess or queen, a typical christian symbol. This is to mock the Ottomans, as there is a similar reverse with a Kosovian on Ottoman Medals.

All in all an interesting historical piece, but not much for numismatic value. This probably was produced during the rise of Greek partisans fighting against the Ottomans for souvereignty.

Best wishes,
Burak