Illustrated Specimen Details: 10 Para (Egypt)
Example Specimen: 10 para, 1864 (Egypt Eyalet of the Ottoman Empire)
Dating & Ruler: This coin was issued under Abdulaziz, the 32nd Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. While the coin bears the accession date ١٢٧٧ (AH 1277 — 1861 in the Gregorian calendar), the actual year of minting is indicated by the numeral at the top. The ٤ (4) signifies the 4th year of the Sultan's reign, which corresponds to 1864.
Design & Inscriptions: The obverse features the Tughra (calligraphic monogram) of Sultan Abdulaziz. The reverse includes the abbreviated denomination پ ١٠ (10 para) and the inscription Struck in Misr (Misr is the Arabic name for Egypt).
Denomination: 10 para
Date on Coin: AH 1277 (Year 4) — 1864
Metal: Bronze
Weight: 5.69 g | Diameter: 30 mm
Estimated value: 3$
DENOMINATION GUIDE — WHERE & WHEN (coins catalog: by names & emitents)
- EGYPT EYALET (17-19th centuries): 1 para = 1/40 qirsh.
- OTTOMAN EMPIRE (17-20th centuries): 1 para = 3 akçe = 1/40 kuruş.
- SERBIA & YUGOSLAVIA (19-20th centuries): 1 para = 1/100 dinar.
- MONTENEGRO (1906-1914): 1 para = 1/100 perper.
About the name of the coin para: The name likely derives from the Persian word "pārah", meaning "piece" or "particle of something bigger". In Turkish, the phrase "gümüş para" literally translates as "silver coin", reflecting the fact that the earliest Ottoman para coins were struck in silver.
History and Context of the Para
The para was one of the most widespread small coin denominations in the Ottoman Empire and the Balkans. It served as a key fractional unit for centuries, eventually transitioning into a decimal denomination in several modern monetary systems.
The Ottoman Monetary Standard
In the broader Ottoman system from the 17th to the 20th century, 1 para equaled 3 akçe and was valued at 1/40 of a kuruş. This structure was mirrored in various provincial eyalets, including Egypt, Baghdad, Tripolitania, and Aleppo. In the Crimean Khanate, the para was valued as 1/5 of a beshlik.
Modernization and Decimalization
As Balkan states moved toward independence and modernization in the 19th and 20th centuries, the para was integrated into decimal systems. In the Kingdoms of Serbia and Montenegro, as well as throughout the history of Yugoslavia, the para became a subdivision equal to 1/100 of a dinar or perper.
Physical Characteristics and Designs
Over its long history, para coins have been struck in silver, billon, copper, and bronze. Ottoman issues are instantly recognizable by their calligraphic tughras and Arabic script, while later Balkan issues featured royal monograms and national coats of arms.
Numismatic Notes
For collectors, Ottoman paras offer an incredibly complex field of study due to the vast number of mints and rulers. Balkan decimal paras are also historically significant as they represent the transition from traditional Islamic-Ottoman accounting to European-style decimalized currencies.
Key Point
The para was originally a small Ottoman denomination equal to 1/40 kuruş, which later evolved into a modern decimal subdivision equal to 1/100 dinar or perper across various Balkan and Middle Eastern states.
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