Catalog
10 Para
| Issuer | Ottoman Post / Treasury |
|---|---|
| Year | 1917 |
| Type | Standard circulation banknote |
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| Obverse description | The obverse is printed in green and presents a central vignette of the Sultanahmet Square in Constantinople, with the Hagia Sophia mosque and the Egyptian Obelisk visible in a detailed letterpress rendering. The design is framed by an ornate border with arabesque corner motifs and a crescent-and-star device at the upper centre. The denomination '10' appears in Arabic numerals in the lower lateral panels, and Ottoman Turkish legends are inscribed in the upper and lower registers. The image shown is an uncut block of four notes. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | عثمانلو پوسطه سی سوه پاره |
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| Comments |
The 1917 Ottoman small-denomination issues were a direct consequence of wartime metal shortages — copper and nickel had been diverted to munitions production, and fractional currency in coin form had effectively disappeared from circulation by 1916. These notes were printed domestically, a significant departure from the pre-war practice of relying on European security printers. The quality reflects that constraint.
The 10 Para occupied the lowest practical tier of Ottoman paper money ever issued — at the time of printing, roughly equivalent to less than half a US cent. They circulated hard and wore out fast.