Ottoman period coins found in Batman Museum

Before the invention of money and coins, people used to exchange goods by bartering to meet their needs. However, with the introduction of money and coins, this new means of payment enabled trade to become more regular and facilitated shopping. Coins, thanks to the information they carry on them, provide important data about the states that issued them. Details such as the years of ascension to the throne of the rulers, the places and dates where the coins were minted constitute a valuable source for historical research. These coins also provide us with information about the conquests, economic conditions and social structures of the states. Today, the examination of coins exhibited in museums and unearthed through archaeological excavations helps us to learn more about past civilisations and the coins they minted. In particular, the study of the coins of a state with such a vast territory as the Ottoman Empire is of great importance not only for Ottoman history but also for world history. In this study, the evolution and production techniques of coins are discussed, and the coins minted by pre-Ottoman states are briefly analysed. In addition, detailed information on the terms used in Ottoman coins, types of materials used, currencies and mints are presented. The 40 coins among the Ottoman coins in the inventory of the Batman Museum are analysed in terms of their period, date and place of minting, inscriptions and ornaments.