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Turkish lira
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The Turkish lira is the currency of Turkey and the de facto independent state of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The lira is subdivided into 100 kurus. The symbol is TL and the ISO 4217 code is TRY.
lira was introduced in 1844. It replaced the kurus as the principal unit of currency, with the kurus continuing to circulate as a subdivision of the lira, with 100 kurus = 1 lira.
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Encyclopedia
The Turkish lira is the currency of Turkey and the de facto independent state of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The lira is subdivided into 100 kurus. The symbol is TL and the ISO 4217 code is TRY.
History
First lira
The lira was introduced in 1844. It replaced the kurus as the principal unit of currency, with the kurus continuing to circulate as a subdivision of the lira, with 100 kurus = 1 lira. The para also continued to be used, with 40 para = 1 kurus. Until the 1930s, the Arabic script was used on Turkish coins and banknotes, with ???? for para, ???? for kurus and ???? for lira (???? ?????? for "Turkish lira"). In European languages, the kurus was known as the piastre, whilst the lira was known as the livre in French.
Between 1844 and 1881, the lira was on a bimetallic standard, with 1 lira = 6.61519 grams pure gold = 99.8292 grams pure silver. In 1881, the gold standard was adopted and continued until 1914. World War I saw Turkey effectively depart from the gold standard with the gold lira being worth about nine lira in paper money by the early 1920s.
After periods pegged to the British pound and the French franc, a peg of 2.8 lira = 1 U.S. dollar was adopted in 1946 and maintained until 1960, when the currency was devalued to 9 lira = 1 dollar. From 1970, a series of hard, then soft pegs to the dollar operated as the value of the lira began to fall.
Because of the chronic inflation experienced in Turkey from the 1970s through to the 1990s, the lira experienced severe depreciation in value. Turkey has had high inflation rates compared to developed countries but has never suffered hyperinflation. From an average of 9 lira per U.S. dollar in the late 1960s, the currency came to trade at approximately 1.65 million lira per U.S. dollar in late 2001. This represented an average inflation of about 38% per year. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had called this problem a "national shame".
- 1966 — 1 U.S. dollar = 9 lira
- 1980 — 1 U.S. dollar = 90 lira
- 1988 — 1 U.S. dollar = 1,300 lira
- 1995 — 1 U.S. dollar = 45,000 lira
- 1996 — 1 U.S. dollar = 107,000 lira
- 2001 — 1 U.S. dollar = 1,650,000 lira
- 2004 — 1 U.S. dollar = 1,350,000 lira
- 2007 — 1 U.S. dollar = 1,260,000 (old) lira = 1.26 new lira
- 2008 — 1 U.S. dollar = 1,550,000 (old) lira = 1.55 new lira
In its last few years the Turkish lira stabilised and even rose against the U.S. dollar and the euro. The Guinness Book of Records ranked the lira as the world's least valuable currency in 1995 and 1996, and again in 1999 through 2004. The lira had slid in value to such an extent that one original gold lira coin could be sold for approximately 120,000,000 lira prior to the 2005 revaluation.
Second lira
In late December 2003, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey passed a law that allowed for the removal of six zeroes from the lira, and the creation of a new currency. It was introduced on 1 January 2005, replacing the previous lira (which remained valid in circulation until the end of 2005) at a rate of 1 second lira (ISO 4217 code "TRY") = 1,000,000 first lira (ISO 4217 code "TRL"). With the revaluation of the Turkish lira, the Romanian leu (also revalued in July 2005) briefly became the world's least valued currency unit.
In the transitional period between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2008, the second lira was officially called Yeni Türk Lirasi (New Turkish lira). It was officially abbreviated "YTL" and subdivided into 100 new kurus (yeni kurus). With effect from 1 January 2009, the "new" was removed from the second lira, its official name becoming just "lira" again, abbreviated "TL".
Coins
First lira
Between 1844 and 1855, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 para, ½, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 kurus, ¼, ½, 1, 2½ and 5 lira. The para denominations were struck in copper, the kurus in silver and the lira in gold. The 1 para was discontinued in 1859, with the higher copper denominations ceasing production between 1863 and 1879. In 1899, billon 5 and 10 para were introduced, followed by nickel 5, 10, 20 and 40 kurus in 1910. The silver and gold coinages ceased production as a consequence of the First World War.
In 1922 and 1923, a new coinage was introduced consisting of aluminium-bronze 100 para, 5 and 10 kurus and nickel 25 kurus. These were the last Turkish coins to bear inscriptions in the Arabic script.
In 1934, silver 100 kurus coins were struck, followed the next year by a new coinage consisting of cupro-nickel 1, 5 and 10 kurus, and silver 25 and 50 kurus and 1 lira. Aluminium-bronze 10 para coins were issued between 1940 and 1942, the last coins to bear this denomination. Nickel-brass replaced silver in the 25 kurus in 1944, with brass 1, 2½, 5, 10 and 25 kurus introduced between 1947 and 1949. The silver 50 kurus and 1 lira were discontinued in 1948, with cupro-nickel 1 lira issued in 1957.
Between 1958 and 1963, bronze 1, 5 and 10 kurus and steel 25 kurus, 1 and 2½ lira were introduced, followed by steel 50 kurus and 5 lira in 1971 and 1974, respectively. Aluminium replaced bronze in 1975. These coins were issued up to 1980.
In 1981, with inflation gaining pace, aluminium 1, 5 and 10 lira coins were introduced. Higher denominations followed: 20, 50 and 100 lira in 1984, 25 lira in 1985, 500 lira in 1988, 1000 lira in 1990, 2500 lira in 1991, 5000 lira in 1992, 10,000 lira in 1994, 25,000 lira in 1995, 50,000 and 100,000 lira in 1999, and 250,000 lira in 2002.
Second lira
2005–2008
In the transitional period between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2008, the second lira was officially called "new lira" in Turkey. Coins were introduced in 2005 in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 new (yeni) kurus and 1 new (yeni) lira. The 1 new kurus was minted in brass and the 5, 10 and 25 new kurus in cupro-nickel, whilst the 50 new kurus and 1 new lira are bimetallic. All coins show portraits of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
To the dismay of the European Central Bank, the sizes and compositions of the 50 new kurus and 1 new lira coins clearly resemble those of the €1 and €2 coins respectively. (See comparison photo in of YTL 1 coin and €2 coin.) This could cause confusion in the eurozone. It also caused trouble to businesses using vending machines (particularly at airports) in the eurozone since a number of vending machines at the time accepted the 1 new lira coin as a €2 coin. Since €2 is worth roughly four times more, vending machines affected had to be upgraded at the expense of their owners.
Since 2009
With effect from 1 January 2009, the "new" was removed from the second lira, its official name in Turkey becoming just "lira" again. Therefore, new coins without the word "yeni" were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 kurus and 1 lira.
| Turkish Lira coins after 2009 |
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| Image | Value | Technical parameters | Description | Date of |
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| Obverse | Reverse | Diameter | Thickness | Mass | Composition | Edge | Obverse | Reverse | first minting | issue |
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| | | 1 kurus | 16.5 mm | 1.35 mm | 2.2 g | 70% copper
30% zinc | Plain | Value, motif, year of minting | "TÜRKIYE CUMHURIYETI",
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | 2008 | 1 January 2009 | | | | 5 kurus | 17.5 mm | 1.65 mm | 2.9 g | 65% copper
18% nickel
17% zinc | Plain | Value, motif, year of minting | "TÜRKIYE CUMHURIYETI",
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | 2008 | 1 January 2009 | | | | 10 kurus | 18.5 mm | 1.65 mm | 3.15 g | 65% copper
18% nickel
17% zinc | Plain | Value, motif, year of minting | "TÜRKIYE CUMHURIYETI",
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | 2008 | 1 January 2009 | | | | 25 kurus | 20.5 mm | 1.65 mm | 4 g | 65% copper
18% nickel
17% zinc | Reeded | Value, motif, year of minting | "TÜRKIYE CUMHURIYETI",
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | 2008 | 1 January 2009 | | | | 50 kurus | 23.85 mm | 1.9 mm | 6.8 g | Outer ring:
65% copper
18% nickel
17% zinc
Inner part:
79 % copper
4% nickel
17% zinc | Reeded | Value, Istanbul, suspension bridge, year of minting | "TÜRKIYE CUMHURIYETI",
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | 2008 | 1 January 2009 | | | | 1 lira | 26.15 mm | 1.9 mm | 8.2 g | Outer ring:
79% copper
4% nickel
17% zinc
Inner part:
65% copper
18% nickel
17% zinc | T.C. letters and tulip figure | Value, motif, year of minting | "TÜRKIYE CUMHURIYETI",
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | 2008 | 1 January 2009 | |
Banknotes
Introduction
The Banque Imperiale Ottomane (Imperial Ottoman Bank) first issued paper currency Kaime in 1862, in the denomination of 200 kurus. The notes bore texts in Turkish and French. Notes for 1, 2 and 5 lira were introduced in 1873. In 1876, smaller denomination notes were introduced for 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 kurus. In 1908, 50 and 100 lira notes were introduced.
From 1912, the Ministry of Finance issued paper money. Initially, notes were produced in denominations of 5 and 20 kurus, ¼, ½, 1 and 5 lira, followed the next year by 1 and 2½ kurus, 2½, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500 lira. 1000 lira notes were introduced in 1914. In 1917, postage stamp money was issued in the form of 5 and 10 para stamps affixed to card.
In 1926, the Ministry of Finance introduced notes for the Republic of Turkey in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 lira. These were the last notes printed with both French and Turkish (in the Arabic script) texts on them. Each note carried the portrait of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Between 1937 and 1939, the Central Bank of Turkey introduced new notes with Turkish texts in the Latin alphabet, bearing the portrait of President Ismet Inönü. Inönü notes caused disputes at the time. Denominations of 2½, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 lira were issued. 1 lira notes were reintroduced in 1942, followed by 50 kurus notes which weren't released in the country due to World War II in 1944. These two lowest denominations were replaced by coins after the War.
Atatürk reappeared on a subsequent series of notes in the early 1950s. The 2½ lira notes were replaced by coins in 1960, with the same happening to the 5 and 10 lira notes in 1974 and 1981. Higher denomination notes were introduced during the 1980s and 90s: 5000 lira in 1981, 10,000 lira in 1982, 20,000 lira in 1988, 50,000 lira in 1989, 100,000 lira in 1991, 250,000 lira in 1992, 500,000 lira in 1993, 1,000,000 lira in 1995, 5,000,000 lira in 1997, 10,000,000 lira in 1999 and 20,000,000 lira in 2001. The higher values of the "E7 Emission Group" banknotes (1992 250,000 TL and later and higher value notes) are exchangeable for new liras at a rate of 1,000,000 lira to 1 new lira at branches of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey until 31 December 2015, after which time they will have no value. The 50,000 lira note ceases to be redeemable on 4 November 2009, and the 100,000 lira note on 4 November 2011.
6th Emission Group
7th Emission Group
1980s series
| Banknotes of Emission 7 (1980s) |
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| Image | Value | Dimensions | Main Colour | Description |
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| Obverse | Reverse | Obverse | Reverse |
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| | | 10 Lira | 122 × 55 mm | Pink, Olive Green | Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | Meeting of him with elementary students. | | | | 100 Lira | 131 × 61 mm | Red, Brown | Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | Mehmet Akif Ersoy with National anthem of Turkey and his birthplace | | | | 500 Lira | 140 × 72 mm | Blue | Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | Clock Tower of Izmir | | | | 1 000 Lira | 140 × 72 mm | Violet | Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | Fatih Sultan Mehmed with Old Istanbul skyline |
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| 5 000 Lira | 1st version: 140 × 72 mm
Later versions: 146 × 72 mm | 1st version: Brown, orange and blue
Later: Green, Brown | Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | 1st version: Mevlana Mausoleum, Konya
2nd and 3rd version: Same place with Mevlana
4th version: Thermal power station of Afsin - Elbistan | | | | 10 000 lira | 146 × 72 mm | Purple, Green | Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | Sinan the Architect with Süleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul | | | | 20 000 lira | 152 × 76 mm | Red, Violet | Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | Main Building of Central Bank of Turkey, Ankara | | | | 50 000 lira | 152 × 76 mm | Green | Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | Turkish Grand National Assembly, Ankara | |
1990-2005 series
The notes were given security features. The latest versions of the 100 000 TL, 250 000 TL, 500 000 TL and 1 000 000 TL notes lost their color-changing ink due to inflation.
8th Emission group
In the transitional period between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2008, the second lira was officially called "new lira" in Turkey. Banknotes, referred to by the Central Bank as the "E-8 Emission Group", were introduced in 2005 in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 new lira. Whilst the lower four denominations replaced older notes and used very similar designs, the 50 and 100 new lira notes did not have equivalents in the old currency. All notes show portraits of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk from different points of his life and images of various historical and otherwise important buildings and places in Turkey.
9th Emission group
A new series of banknotes, the "E-9 Emission Group" entered circulation on 1 January 2009, with the E-8 group ceasing to be valid after 31 December 2009 (although still redeemable at branches of the Central Bank until 31 December 2019). The E-9 banknotes refer to the currency as "lira" rather than "new lira", and include a new 200 lira denomination. The new banknotes have different sizes to prevent forgery.
| Banknotes of Emission 9 |
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| Image | Value | Dimensions | Main colours | Description |
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| Obverse | Reverse | Obverse | Reverse |
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| | | 5 lira | 64 × 130 mm | Brown | Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | Aydin Sayili, diagrams of solar system, atom, DNA and ancient cave | | | | 10 lira | 64 × 136 mm | Red | Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | Cahit Arf, Arf invariant, arithmetic series, abacus, binary | | | | 20 lira | 68 × 142 mm | Green | Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | Mimar Kemaleddin, line drawing of Gazi University rectory building, aquaduct, circular motif and cube-globe-cylinder symbolizing architecture | | | | 50 lira | 68 × 148 mm | Orange | Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | Fatma Aliye, flower and literary figures | | | | 100 lira | 72 × 154 mm | Blue | Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | Buhurizade Itri, notes, instruments and Mevlevi figure | | | | 200 lira | 72 × 160 mm | Purple | Mustafa Kemal Atatürk | Yunus Emre, Yunus' mausoleum, rose, pigeon and the line "Sevelim, sevilelim" (Let us love, let us be loved) | |
See also
Further reading
External links
Historical context
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