500 Kurush - Gold - Various years

The 500 Kurush gold coin is the large Turkish gold coin: 36.08 g of 22-karat gold (916.7 thousandths), or 33.07 g of fine gold, a little more than an ounce. Its price follows the gold market: it is this weight of gold, not the year or type, that determines its value.

Five times heavier than the 7.22 g 100 Kurush, it allows you to hold more than an ounce of gold in a single coin, in a robust alloy, while remaining a format known to traders.

Technical specifications of the 500 Kurush gold

• Fineness: 916.7 thousandths (22 carats)
• Total weight: 36.08 g
• Fine gold: 33.07 g (1.06 troy ounces)
• Diameter: approximately 35 mm
• Face value: 500 kurush, or five Turkish pounds
• Country of issue: Ottoman Empire, then Republic of Turkey (Istanbul)
• Condition: circulated, various years

History of the 500 Kurush gold

In 1844, the monetary reform of the Ottoman Empire set the standard for the gold pound, or 100 kurush, at 7.216 g of 22-karat gold. The 500 kurush coin, with a value of five pounds, is a multiple of this: it weighs 36.08 g. It bears the tughra, the calligraphic monogram of the reigning sultan.

The Republic of Turkey, proclaimed in 1923, maintained this standard. The Turkish State Mint (Darphane) strikes a 36.08 g coin, known as a "beşlik" (piece of five), featuring the portrait of Atatürk. Whether Ottoman or Republican, the 36.08 g 500 kurush coins therefore have the same gold content.

How to identify a 500 Kurush gold coin?

Ottoman coins bear the sultan's tughra on one side and, on the other, an inscription in Arabic characters indicating the mint, the year of the sultan's accession according to the Hijri calendar, and the regnal year. Republican coins show the portrait of Atatürk on one side, with the motto "Hakimiyet Milletindir", and on the other, the inscription "Türkiye Cumhuriyeti" and the date 1923, accompanied by the number of years elapsed since the founding of the Republic.

Verification involves checking the weight (36.08 g), the diameter, and the sharpness of the engraving and the edge. Our experts perform these checks on every coin before it is put up for sale.

Why invest in the 500 Kurush gold?

• More than an ounce of gold: 33.07 g of fine gold in a single coin.
• An old and stable standard: the same weight and fineness since the mid-19th century.
• An exact multiple: five times the 7.22 g 100 Kurush, making its value easy to calculate.
• A durable alloy: 22-karat gold resists scratches and impacts better than pure gold.

A "bankable" controlled 500 Kurush, ready for resale

The 500 Kurush gold coin is sold for the gold it contains. Its price follows the gold market, to which an investment premium is added. As investment gold, it is exempt from VAT in Belgium.

• Controlled "bankable": each coin is verified by our experts (authenticity, weight, fineness). It has no defects that would prevent its resale as investment gold: no holes, solder, traces of mounting, or excessive shock or wear.
• Ready for resale: the day you resell it, it is accepted for buyback as investment gold, based on its fine gold weight. We guarantee its buyback at any time.

Year and condition of your 500 Kurush gold

This product is sold in "various years": the vintage and type vary from one coin to another and cannot be chosen. These are circulating coins that have already had one or more owners: slight signs of wear or patina are normal and do not affect their investment value, which is calculated based on their fine gold weight. Photo for illustrative purposes only.

How to store your 500 Kurush coins?

For a gold coin to retain its full resale value, a few simple precautions are sufficient:

• handle it by the edge, ideally with cotton gloves;
• never clean it: cleaning products and rubbing scratch the gold and can complicate its resale;
• store it in a capsule or individual case, away from humidity and shocks;
• keep your purchase invoice, which is useful when reselling.

Frequently asked questions about the 500 Kurush gold

How much gold does a 500 Kurush contain?

It weighs 36.08 g and contains 33.07 g of fine gold, at 22 karats (916.7 thousandths), or about 1.06 troy ounces.

What is the difference from the 100 Kurush?

The 500 Kurush contains exactly five times more gold than the 7.22 g 100 Kurush. The large format reduces the number of coins to hold; the small one allows for resale in smaller quantities.

Can I choose the year or type?

No. This product is sold in various years: you will receive a 500 Kurush selected from our stock, which always contains 33.07 g of fine gold.

Is the 500 Kurush gold subject to VAT?

No. In Belgium, as in the entire European Union, the 500 Kurush gold is considered investment gold and is exempt from VAT.