The Ottoman Imperial Mint

The image below shows the circular mark, with the words "Darphane-i Amire" contained in a crescent.
Just above the mint mark is a smaller mark, which is a silver hallmark that is occasionally found on Ottoman orders. This smaller mark is merely a circular cartouche with the word "Sah" (Pure).


 

Mavi Boncuk |

DARPHANE-I AMIRE | The Ottoman IMPERIAL MINT

Most of the medals and orders issued by the Ottoman government were struck at the "Darphane-i Amire" or National Mint in Istanbul. Although medals did not carry the mint's mark, most orders produced in the last 20 to 30 years of the Ottoman Empire carry a mint mark. One exception is the Osmanie Order badge, which is enameled on both sides, but breast stars of the order usually bear the mark on the reverse. In some cases, orders are also marked with the Tughra of the reigning Sultan at the time of the award, which is very useful in dating the pieces accurately.

Sultan Abdulhamid I and Selim III took major decisions about the functions of the treasury. First radical change was made in the nature of the Mint (Darphane). Beginning in 1773-1774, in the reign of Abdulhamid I, the Mint began to function as a reserve to the Hazine-i Amire as if the Central Bank. Incomes of some important tax farms such as Mecca and Medina mukataas were also accrued to the Mint

The Ottoman National Mint, where virtually all official issue Ottoman orders and medals were made (the 1915 War Medal stands out as an exception - none of the issue pieces were made there). The mint, in Istanbul, still exists today and is still the official mint of the modern Republic of Turkey.