50 Kuruş FAO

Part of a coordinated FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) coinage program that ran through dozens of countries during the 1970s and 1980s, these issues were struck to promote food security initiatives and agricultural development — Turkey's participation reflecting its role as a significant grain-producing nation. The FAO program effectively gave member states a subsidized excuse to mint collector-friendly pieces with international institutional backing.

Turkey was in the grip of severe political instability in 1980; a military coup on September 12 of that year ended the civilian government entirely. Coins dated 1980 were struck under at least two distinct political administrations.