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House of Emirates® in London is thrilled to offer its elite clientele this exceptionally rare Ottoman silver Akçe of the ottoman Sultan Orhan I, struck at the historic Bursa Mint during his reign . Measuring approximately 18.1 mm in diameter and weighing 0.75 grams, this remarkable undated issue represents one of the earliest and most historically important stages in the development of Ottoman coinage.
Numista currently assigns this Orhan I type a rarity index of 93/100 based on its member-collection data, while identifying it as Orhan’s earliest akçe type and Bursa as the mint.
The Orhan I akçe is generally regarded as the first securely established Ottoman coinage bearing the name of an Ottoman ruler
Lettering:
اورخان
خلد الله ملكه
Translation:
Orhan,
May his kingdom be prepetuate
Declaration of faith in the squares. the name of the 4 great caliphs around the squares Abu Bakr, Omar, Uthman, Ali respectively when read clockwise.
Lettering:
لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله
ابوبكر, عمر, عثمان, على
Translation:
there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger
Abu Bakr, Omar, Uthman, Ali
Orhan I, the second ruler of the Ottoman dynasty, succeeded Osman I and presided over a transformative period in the early expansion of the Ottoman state. Under Orhan’s rule, the emerging Ottoman principality developed increasingly sophisticated administrative, military and monetary institutions.
The capture of Bursa in 1326 was particularly significant, establishing the city as the Ottoman capital and an important political and economic centre. It was in this environment that early Ottoman silver coinage began to assume an increasingly important role in commerce and state administration.
The Ottoman Akçe was the fundamental silver denomination of the early Ottoman monetary system. Small in size but immense in historical significance, these early silver pieces provide tangible evidence of the formation of an Ottoman monetary identity.
Unlike later Ottoman coinage, early akçes often feature highly stylised Arabic inscriptions and comparatively restrained designs, reflecting the developing character of Ottoman numismatic art. The present example is an undated issue, meaning its precise year of striking is not specified on the coin itself; it is therefore attributed to the reign of Orhan I, AH 724–761 (1324–1360 AD), and the Bursa Mint.
What makes this particular specimen especially compelling is its stated extreme rarity. Early Ottoman akçes of Orhan I are important survivors from the formative decades of the empire, while rare and distinctive varieties can be exceptionally difficult to locate in the international market. The present example’s compact dimensions and modest original denomination contrast dramatically with its historical importance: this is a tangible silver witness to the emergence of an empire that would eventually become one of the most consequential powers spanning Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
For the discerning investor in historical tangible assets, early Ottoman coinage offers a remarkable intersection of precious metal, monetary history, dynastic heritage and scarcity. This Akçe is not merely an ancient silver object; it represents the monetary history of the Ottoman state at a moment when its institutions, identity and territorial influence were still taking shape. Its connection with Orhan I, Bursa and the formative Ottoman period gives it an exceptional historical narrative that extends far beyond its physical dimensions.
The combination of extreme rarity, early Ottoman attribution, Bursa provenance, silver composition, undated early issue and connection to Sultan Orhan I makes this a particularly distinguished historical asset. More than six centuries after it was struck, the coin continues to carry the imprint of one of the most consequential chapters in medieval Islamic and Ottoman history.
Specifications
Ruler: Orhan I
Dynasty: Ottoman Empire
Denomination: Akçe
Metal: Silver
Date: AH 724–761 / 1324–1360 AD
Mint: Bursa
Issue: Undated
Diameter: 18.1 mm
Weight: 0.75 g
Rarity: Extremely Rare
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