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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,767 |
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Pillar Of The Community
Turkey
1205 Posts |
"On 1st of March, during a gas piping construction in Princess Island - Istanbul - Turkey, some Ottoman coins were found by the workers.
The workers tried to keep the coins for themselves but after the incident was taken under police control, all the coins found (149) were sent to Archeological museum authorities."
It seems that someone buried his "collection" back then, my guess is it may be during WW-I or during the Independence war. Maybe the guy didn't want to give his war taxes. Who knows?
I couldn't get any detailed info of which period the coins belong to, or if they are silver / gold.
This is all the detail I could find, no English source I can refer to, all info is in Turkish, sorry for that.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1091 Posts |
Finders weepers, losers keepers.(government)
As a child I remember a saying that kids would sing out if they found something. "Finders keepers, losers weepers". Your story about the coins being taken from the finders reverses that saying.
It's a good warning to those forum members that use their metal detectors, if they are lucky enough to find a fortune.
Edited by toast
03/04/2006 7:57 pm
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Pillar Of The Community
 Turkey
1205 Posts |
Actually, I thought it was the same here; finders keepers.
However, any transactions of the coins from before 1839 are prohibited by the government. These coins / notes minted in the period of Mahmud II and before are considered as property of the museums and they can be kept by the museums or by the registered collectors.
I think the coins found in the island are sent to the museum for investigation. The result is not clear yet.
If the coins are decided to be kept by the museum, the workers still can sue government, because they found them, but who knows what happens.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
980 Posts |
Hi Rena
For those of us who don't know Turkish history, when was Mahmoud II leader of the Ottoman empire? Is he on the coinage?
Don
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Pillar Of The Community
Turkey
1205 Posts |
Mahmud the 2nd was on the throne between 1808-1839. The Ottoman coins never had rulers or anyone on them, but the Sultans seals. Here is a coin minted in 1820.  This is Mahmud II's seal:  The seal is actually two sentences written in special arabic handwriting, says: "Mahmud (son) of Abdulhamid, victor forever." The other Sultans had similar seals that all look quite alike, either arabic knowledge or a careful eye is needed to tell the difference. (I had this info from the net, I don't know any arabic:) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
980 Posts |
Neat coins. I can see why the workers tried to keep them   Thanks for the history Rena |
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Pillar Of The Community
Turkey
1205 Posts |
You're welcome.
Glad I could help. if you have anything else you're interested in about the Ottoman period, just ask, I'll do my best:)
Renal
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Valued Member
United States
346 Posts |
thats a very interesting bit of info. I dont see why they government should be aloud to take them but what can ya do? lol will the workers be reimbursed or anything for the coins are they just left with nothing? I love the design on that coin. from the look I'm guessing gold?
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Pillar Of The Community
Turkey
1205 Posts |
The coin in the picture is gold Chuck, but I stiil couldn't get to know what kind of coins were found in the construction.
The law here -as far as I know - is; you need to inform the authorities if you find something of historical value. You are given a share (a small one) from that findings or if it's not in many pieces, you are rewarded with some money I suppose.
That is something to do with protecting our history thing.
Yet I don't know the situation of this incident. If I get any info, I'll post here.
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Valued Member
United States
346 Posts |
I can understand the part about protecting the history. It just struck me as odd they confiscated it all from them. Theres always something someone will think is odd but kinda understand it though. Its a good idea to protect the history so I understand it from that point of view but when I look at it as they found it so they should be able to keep it is where it makes me confused lol I think I got it now though. thanks
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,767 |
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Posted 03/04/2006 8:04 pm
