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5 Para Countermarked A on Turkey KM-728, AH1293
| Issuer | Greece |
|---|---|
| Year | |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 5 Para (1⁄800) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Central field dominated by the elaborate tughra (imperial cipher) of Sultan Abdul Hamid II, rendered in flowing calligraphic style with characteristic loop and three vertical shafts. A decorative floral spray element appears to the right of the tughra. The Arabic numeral '4' appears below, indicating regnal year 4. The entire design is characteristic of late Ottoman billon coinage struck at Constantinople. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
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| Reverse description | The reverse of this countermarked piece displays the original Ottoman Arabic legend surrounding the field, reading 'May he be victorious, struck in Constantinople, year 1293' with the denomination '5' para. Prominently applied over the host coin's reverse is a large incuse triangular countermark bearing the letter 'A' in Latin script, the Greek countermark applied to authorize circulation of Ottoman coinage within Greece. The underlying Arabic legends remain partially legible around the countermark. |
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| Additional information |
Following the Greco-Turkish War of 1897, Greece found itself in a state of financial receivership under the International Financial Commission, with coinage in chronic short supply. Turkish 5-Para pieces circulating in Greek-controlled territories were officially countermarked to legitimize their continued use — the applied "A" stamp bringing them into the Greek monetary system by administrative fiat rather than fresh minting.
The host coin, Ottoman KM-728, was struck at Constantinople under Abdul Hamid II. Countermark quality and placement vary considerably; off-center applications are common.