The bowls are copper, about 3" diameter & 13/16" high. Coins are soldered into holes; bowls are without foot rim, so outside face gets the table-wear. Orientation is problematic, sorry. There has been quite obvious scrubbing, inner and outer. I don't have weights, of course. # One is 33.7mm, # Two 36.6mm: both dimensions are approximate, due to solder-slop. One looks like it may have some silver content; Two is copper/brass that looks plated. Any thoughts on nation/era? Are they common? Thanks, all...
My meager knowledge of coins is only slightly surpassed by my knowledge of the Middle East. I can't really make out the writing in its entirety, but I can definitely see a "gonstantanieh" which means "constantinople" . To answer your question, the language is neither Arabic nor Persian -- it's likely to be Ottoman.
A reference to Constantinople would surprise me, since I thought they renamed it to Istanbul almost immediately upon taking it in 1453. And being they definitely are not Byzantine, I question why there would be any reference to the Byzantine city name.
The bottom one definatly is a ottoman coin, struk in 1327 according to the islamic calender. The other one could be from Tunisa, but I can not find the date. Best regards, Mynter
The change from Constantinople to Istanbul was done only after the fall of the Ottoman Empire after WWI. Neither Constantinople nor Istanbul are of Turkish etymology. They kept the name because that area of the world was newly conquered.
Istanbul in fact is greek ( eis ten polin ) , wich means " into the city ". If you go to Istanbul by train from Greece, do not look for a cart marked " Istanbul " , the greeks still speak og " Konstantinopouli ".
Top is a really bad imitation of a Turkish Hayriye Altin issued by Mahmud II. Bottom is a Turkish 20 Kurus, 1327/8 1915.
The imitation will be the learning tool for removal from the bowl. The 20 Kurus will be proof of skills acquired. Pics of both posted upon completion; thanks, DCH, for the straight scoop on these two Turkish oddities!
Why remove them? Leave them like they are. Coins will not be worth anything after removal and silver value minimal. I think they are neat just like they are.
