Ottoman Akce of Chios

The Ottoman Akce from Chios was often struck on planchets cut from recycled silver, including scraps from shipwrecked coins along the Aegean trade routes.

This made for coins that were as pragmatic as they were prone to irregularities, with edges that might show hints of their salvaged origins. Minted under Ottoman rule from the late 16th century, these small silver pieces served as the empire's everyday currency on the island. We know they featured simple inscriptions in Arabic script, typically the sultan's name and the mint location, but exact designs varied by ruler and available metal.

Records are spotty; much of what we have comes from hoards unearthed in the 20th century. No one can say for sure how many were produced in any given year, given the empire's haphazard bookkeeping.

Collectors might note the Akce's weight loss over time, as the silver content was repeatedly debased to fund wars. It's a coin that whispers of commerce and conquest, not glory.