Mahmud II, 1808-1839

Mahmud II, uncertain denomination, AR, AD 1808–1839 (AH 1223–1255), 6.43 g, 26 mm.

Ottoman Empire. Obverse: Tughra of Sultan Mahmud II (Mahmud bin Abdülhamid, muzaffer daima) within linear and beaded circles. Reverse: Accession year AH 1223 above, “sene” and regnal year below; mint name in Arabic script in exergue; within linear circles. Struck on a thin flan typical of the series; exact mint and regnal year not recorded. References: cf. Album, Checklist of Islamic Coins (Mahmud II AR tughra series); cf. KM, Standard Catalog of World Coins 1801–1900 (Ottoman Empire, Mahmud II silver para/kuruş types); cf. Zeno.ru (Ottoman, Mahmud II AR). Mahmud II’s coinage marks a period of state centralization and fiscal reorganization following prolonged monetary instability. His silver issues, bearing the imperial tughra and the fixed accession date AH 1223 with varying regnal years, were struck at multiple provincial mints and at Kostantiniyye, documenting wide mint activity and successive recoinages. The series coincides with his abolition of the Janissaries in 1826 and early administrative and military reforms that preceded the Tanzimat, making these coins primary evidence for Ottoman monetary policy and governance in the early 19th century.