Turkey - 2011 - 50 Turkish Lira - Mardin and Diyarbakır

ANRO-362

Obverse: Depicts a prominent historical building from Diyarbakır, highlighting its distinctive black basalt and white stone architecture, which characterizes the city's traditional structures. The crescent and star, symbols of the Republic of Turkey, appear in the top left corner, with the inscription "TÜRKİYE CUMHURİYETİ" (Republic of Turkey) and "DİYARBAKIR" beneath it. The denomination "50 TL" and the year "2011" are inscribed at the bottom.

Reverse: Features a detailed depiction of the city of Mardin, a historic center known for its unique architecture blending Islamic, Armenian, and Assyrian influences. The image showcases the cityscape with its iconic stone houses and the rock plateau in the background. Above the scene, the inscription "MARDİN" is prominently displayed, surrounded by intricate decorative patterns inspired by regional motifs.

Country: Turkey
Subject: Mardin
Date: 2011
Denomination: 50 lira
Metal: Silver 925
Weight: 31.47g
Diameter: 38.61mm
Edge: Reeded
Mintage: 2,000pcs.
Strike quality: Proof

This coin highlights the historical significance of Mardin and Diyarbakır, two ancient cities in southeastern Turkey. Mardin was annexed by the Ottoman Empire in 1517 under Selim I and became a provincial center. During World War I, Mardin was deeply affected by the Armenian and Assyrian genocides. On the eve of the war, the city was home to over 12,000 Syriacs and 7,500 Armenians. In 1915, many Armenians and Christian notables were massacred or deported, with the Armenian community wiped out entirely. While some Syriacs negotiated to avoid mass killings, many later emigrated to Syria in the 1940s.