An Overview of the History of Coinage in Turkey and the Historical Scope of the NumisTR Project

The geography of Turkey is a center where coinage was invented and rapidly spread in world history. It is known that the first coins in history were minted in the 7th century B.C. in Western Anatolia by the Lydians. These first coins were made of "electrum," a natural alloy of gold and silver. The Lydians standardized the alloy ratio to 55% gold and 45% silver, adding extra silver and copper to the natural electrum, which made the coins more durable. The most important feature of these coins was the presence of the lion and bull figures, the symbols of the Lydians, and this official state stamp indicated that the coin's value was guaranteed by the state. This standardization ensured the coins were accepted as a reliable medium of exchange, paving the way for the institutionalization of money as a state symbol. This invention of coinage led neighboring city-states in Ionia to imitate this model and mint their own coins. This situation reveals the rapid spread and deep influence of the numismatic tradition that forms the basis of NumisTR in the region.  

The Hellenistic period, which began with Alexander the Great's conquest of Anatolia in 333 B.C., increased the numismatic diversity in the region. This wealth continued with the subsequent Roman Empire's dominance and the arrival of the Turks in Anatolia in the late 11th century A.D.

Today, the Burdur Archaeological Museum houses 52,941 portable cultural assets, ranging from the Neolithic age to the Byzantine and Ottoman periods, including 29,765 coins. This collection has been enriched, especially with artifacts obtained from ancient cities around Burdur, such as Kremna, Sagalassos, and Kibyra. The Burdur Archaeological Museum hosts numerous examples related to many coins in the NumisTR database. During the reign of Fatih Sultan Mehmet (Mehmed the Conqueror), the world's first major mint was established in Istanbul.

Numistr is a digital archive project that aims to bring Anatolia's rich numismatic heritage into the digital realm, making data in this field accessible to collectors, academics, and history enthusiasts. Our goal is to offer a comprehensive and reliable resource for anyone who wishes to explore the history, art, and economy of Anatolia through ancient coins.

Technical Infrastructure and Experience NumisTR is developed by AE Telekom Information Technologies Software and Trade Inc., a provider of server hosting, cloud computing, and custom software solutions.