Definition

• The Turkish unit of value, equal to forty Para, and the one hundredth part of the Lira or Pound Turkish. It is sometimes known as the Bir-ghrush. In Egypt the same system prevails, but the value of the Egyptian Piastre is slightly higher than that of Turkey, and it is di- vided also into forty Para or ten Ochr-el- guerches, also called Milliemes.

  The Piastre of Cyprus was introduced in 1901, when, for the English Florin, Shilling, Sixpence, and Threepence, silver pieces of eighteen, nine, four and one half, and three Piastres were substituted. In the reign of Edward VII only the quarter Piastre was struck.

  The etymology of the name can probably be traced to the Italian word Piastra, meaning originally a thin plate of metal. Another derivation is from the pillars, i.e., pilastres, which are found on the Spanish coins bearing this name. See Ghrush and Guerche.

Quelle

• Frey's Dictionary (American Journal of Numismatics, Vol. 50, 1916)

Beziehungen