Coins of Turkey

First Turkish lira

In 1922–23, a new coinage was introduced consisting of aluminium-bronze 2+1⁄2, 5 and 10 kuruş and nickel 25 kuruş (kr.). They were last issued in 1928. These were the last Turkish coins to bear inscriptions in the Arabic script.

In 1934, silver 1 lira (TL) coins were struck, followed the next year by a new coinage consisting of cupro-nickel 1kr., 5kr. and 10kr., and silver 25kr. and 50kr. and TL 1. Aluminium-bronze 1⁄4kr. coins were issued between 1940 and 1942, the last coins to bear this denomination. Nickel-brass replaced silver in the 25kr. in 1944, with brass 1kr., 2+1⁄2kr., 5kr., 10kr. and 25kr. introduced between 1947 and 1949. The silver 50kr. and TL 1 were discontinued in 1948, with cupro-nickel TL 1 issued in 1957.

Between 1958 and 1963, bronze 1kr., 5kr. and 10kr. and steel 25kr., TL 1 and TL 2+1⁄2 were introduced, followed by steel 50kr. and TL 5 in 1971 and 1974, respectively. Aluminium replaced bronze in 1975. These coins were issued up to 1980.

In 1981, with inflation gaining pace, aluminium TL 1, TL 5 and TL 10 coins were introduced. Higher denominations followed: TL 20, TL 50 and TL 100 in 1984, TL 25 in 1985, TL 500 in 1988, TL 1,000 in 1990, TL 2,500 in 1991, TL 5,000 in 1992, TL 10,000 in 1994, TL 25,000 in 1995, TL 50,000 in 1997, and TL 100,000 in 1999. This culminated in TL 250,000 coins in 2002.