Turkish ferry token

[Figleaf]

Brass, 5.2 grams and 30.0 mm.

obv: two crossed anchors with half moon (opening facing up) and star - DENIZCILIK BANKASI T.A.O. (Maritime Bank)
rev: SEHIR HATLARI ISLETMESI (City Lines Operations)

The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich has the following information:

Denizcilik Bankasi TAO (the Turkish Maritime Bank) was established in 1938. It was a state-owned bank established primarily to fund the nation’s emerging maritime industry. The bank operated shipping lines such as Denizyollari, the Turkish Maritime Lines. Throughout the twentieth century these lines ran passenger services to destinations in Turkey, Greece, Italy, Egypt, as well as other destinations in Europe. Turkey’s merchant marine industry blossomed from the 1970’s to the 1990’s, and many of these cargo ships were owned by Denizcilik Bankasi. In 1992, the Turkish government made a decision to consolidate many of their state-run banks and Denizcilik Bankasi was merged with a bank called Emlakbank. Subsequent privatizations and mergers followed, and as of 2006 the bank is now owned by the French-Belgian entity Dexia. Some of the shipping and passenger lines that were operated by Denizcilik Bankasi are still operating, including Turkish Maritime Lines which remains the country’s main car and passenger ferry line. (research: Rebecca Hernandez)

With thanks to AJG, who saw it first.

Peter

[andyg]

Another 'unknown' coin off'f Ebay, but at usual one with a story to tell,
thanks Peter.

[asm]

New to the world of tokens..........Have to thank Salvete for handing over one (not these but a Steven Album Auction token) in Amsterdam which has got me to dig out these........ which if I remember correctly, came from some of the souvenir coin packets I picked up outside the big covered market in Istanbul a few years back. Not sure where and about what it is. The anchors point to shipping.......

1st is CU-Ni and the 2nd is Brass..........

Amit

[Figleaf]

TAM SEHIR HATLARI - full fare, city lines. The "I" may be for "first class"

OGRENCI SEHIR HATLARI - student fare, city lines

Peter

[asm]

Dear Peter, Thanks a lot for the details and the link to the old thread.

Amit

[Figleaf]

On the TAM version: the 1 is for line 1. Period of use fifties and sixties.

Peter

[ciscoins]

I've been to Turkey this summer, and I've found five different tokens for public transport in Istanbul:

1 and 2 - Metro-tram and metro (1,75 TL). Both types circulate together, they are equal.
3 - Long distance ferries (3,50 TL)
4 - Ferries inside Istanbul (1,75 TL)
5 - Urban railway (1,75 TL)

[Figleaf]

Amazing that they are still using the DENIZCILIK BANKASI tokens, since the bank no longer exists. If you can use 1 and 2 for the same thing, I suppose they are not for depositing in a turnstile. Are they collected by hand maybe?

Peter

[ciscoins]

No, they are for turnstiles. There must be some electronic chips inside.

[africancoins]

The piece with date "2010" rather seems to be a piece that will have "electronics" inside... Maybe somewhere there will be an image showing what the "device" inside this sort of token looks like.

Thanks Mr Paul Baker

[giladzuc]

http://giladzuckerman.webs.com/mercuguinness.html#TOKENS

AN OTTOMAN FERRY TOKEN IS LISTED IN THE LINKED PAGE.

[Romario]

Tell me please, what is the difference between red token and blue token (which is bigger)

[ciscoins]

I haven't met the blue token. Maybe that was the first variety, and it has already gone.

[Kushi]

The Roman numeral I on the TAM (full fare) token is for first class passage not route one. The token is listed as TUR 400 FA in the 1981 Smith and Smith catalog. It was first placed in used in 1964.

Kushi

[Figleaf]

I was arguing with myself, I guess (replies 3 and 5). Forgot where I found the info. Thanks for clearing that up, Kushi. Can you give more details on the catalogue you are quoting, please?

Peter

Kushi's book reference moved here.