Turkey Kuru

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

5 new Kurus, 2008
Weight: 2.95gm
Metal: copper-nickel-zinc
Diameter: 17.1mm
Obverse: Head of Ataturk

25 new kurus, 2007

Weight: 5.3gm
Metal: copper-nickel-zinc
Diameter:21.5mm
Obverse: Head of Ataturk facing

50 new Kurus, 2005

Weight: 7gm
Metal: Bimetallic copper-nickel-zinc centre in nickel-bronze ring
Diameter: 23.8mm
Obverse: Head of Ataturk

Note that in 2005, 100 thousand old Lira became equivalent of 1 new Lira. This was done due to rampant inflation and to give the nearly valueless currency some worth. Also, 100 Kurus= 1 Lira so 1 new Kuru=1000 old Lira.

Turkey Lira

                       

This coin was released to mark the 75th anniversary of the Turkish republic. Shown on the obverse is Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey.

Atatürk was a military officer during World War I. Following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I, he led the Turkish national movement in the Turkish War of Independence. Having established a provisional government in Ankara, he defeated the forces sent by the Allies. His military campaigns gained Turkey independence. Atatürk then embarked upon a program of political, economic, and cultural reforms, seeking to transform the former Ottoman Empire into a modern, westernized and secular nation-state.