Selim III Kurush

The Selim III Kurush stands out for its introduction of a standardized silver weight, aligning Ottoman currency with European standards to ease trade amid the empire's reforms.

This coin, minted during Selim III's reign from 1789 to 1807, bore the sultan's tughra—a calligraphic emblem that served as his official signature. Struck in various mints across the empire, it reflected efforts to modernize an ailing economy. The obverse typically featured the tughra, while the reverse included the mint name and date in the Islamic calendar. Not all pieces were uniform; variations in die quality hint at the challenges of implementation.

Exact mintage figures remain elusive, lost to the fog of history, possibly in palace archives that no longer exist. I've handled my share over the years, and let me tell you, the myth that these coins were cursed by Janissaries doesn't hold up—they were just currency, plain and simple.