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20 000 Lira Istanbul Metro
| Issuer | Turkey |
|---|---|
| Year | 1989 |
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| Shape | Round |
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| Reverse description | The upper two-thirds of the field feature a detailed panoramic skyline of Istanbul rendered in high relief, depicting recognisable landmarks including mosques with minarets, Hagia Sophia, city walls, and the Bosphorus Bridge with fish visible in the water below. Beneath the skyline, a stylised cross-section shows a metro train running underground, with the date '1989' inscribed in the tunnel zone alongside the metro logo. The legend 'İSTANBUL METROSU' curves along the lower periphery, with a decorative emblem serving as a central stop between the two words. The engraver's signature 'b.çavuşgil' appears in the lower right field. |
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| Mintage | 1989 - Proof - 5,000 |
| Additional information |
Issued to mark the opening of Istanbul's first metro line — technically a light rail segment running beneath Taksim Square — this coin arrived during a period of severe Turkish monetary instability. Inflation through the late 1980s was running above 70% annually, which makes a silver commemorative denominated at 20,000 lira a pointed irony: the metal content was worth more than the face value almost immediately after issuance.
The line itself, now known as the M2, had been in planning and construction for over a decade before opening.