Ottoman Akce of Crete

The Ottoman akce of Crete was often overstruck on earlier Venetian coins, a practical reuse that blurred the lines between occupiers and the occupied.

This silver coin, minted during the Ottoman rule from 1669 to 1898, typically featured the sultan's tughra—a calligraphic signature—alongside Arabic inscriptions. Sizes varied, but most were small, weighing around one gram, and served for everyday transactions in a turbulent economy. Production likely occurred in local workshops, though exact mint locations remain murky; records from that era are scarce.

Weights and purity fluctuated, reflecting the empire's financial woes. No one knows the precise mintage figures—they weren't exactly keeping meticulous ledgers back then.

Counterfeits were common, which might make you wonder if the real ones are even rarer than they seem.