Turkey's first coin without Atatürk 's visage on it put in use

Turkish State mint has monetised the Turkish Republic’s first coins not to feature Rebuplic’s founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s visage on either of its sides.

Istanbul / NationalTurk – The new coins, a million of which are now in use, were made as souvenirs by the Turkish State Mint to mark the 10th anniversary of the Turkish Olympics, an event in which children from around the world come to Turkey to display their prowess in Turkish by singing pop songs. The event is linked with Gülen movement, the organisation founded by self-exile Turkish imam Fethullah Gülen in the USA which has schools across the world.

The use of coins without Ataturk visage has stirred contoversy and a public debate as some citizens represent their dislike of the new arrangement, mentioning it was part of planned state propaganda led by AKP government to discredit modern Turkey’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

‘ It’s unacceptable that these Turkish coins, supposedly made as souvenirs, are being put to use, ‘ daily Cumhuriyet wrote.