500 Lira FAO

Turkey's FAO coinage of this period was issued under a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization program that encouraged member nations to mint commemorative pieces promoting agricultural development — the proceeds and publicity nominally directed toward food security initiatives. By 1980, Turkey was in the grip of severe political instability; a military coup in September of that year suspended the constitution and dissolved parliament entirely.

KM#940 is among the lower-mintage entries in Turkey's FAO series.