Ottoman Empire Coin - Silver Akçe

History of the Artifact These stunning Ottoman silver coins were the chief monetary unit of the Ottoman Empire - one of the mightiest and longest-lasting dynasties in world history. This Islamic-run superpower ruled large areas of the Middle East, Eastern Europe and North Africa for more than 600 years. The cost of military campaigns, construction of mosques and aqueducts was measured in Akçes. The word itself evolved from the word "silver or silver money", this word is derived from the Turkish ak ("white") and the diminutive suffix -ça. The first of these coins began minting in 1327, but it was not until the Ottoman conquest in 1441 of the precious mining region of ‘Novo Bordo’ in modern day Kosovo that large quantities of Akçes began minting. It was through these precious conquests that the Ottoman empire was able to sustain minting of its coins which it later used to finance its projects across the ever expanding Ottoman Empire. For instance, the world renowned Ottoman Imperial Mosq