Aschrafi

The Aschrafi is an important historical gold coin of Islamic origin, which dates back to the late Middle Ages and is closely linked to the monetary history of the Ottoman Empire, North Africa and the Middle East. From a numismatic point of view, the Aschrafi is a variant of the so-called Altun, a gold coin originally introduced under the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II after the conquest of Constantinople in 1453. While the Altun spread beyond the Ottoman Empire, the name Aschrafi became established in Egypt, Syria, Persia and North Africa in particular as the regional name for similar gold coins.
The name Aschrafi is derived from the Mamluk sultan Al-Aschraf Barsbay, under whose rule high-quality gold coins were minted in the early 15th century. These coins were considered extremely reliable in the Islamic world in terms of purity and weight and were therefore often used as standard currency in long-distance trade. The term remained in use after the end of the Mamluk period and continued to be used for certain gold coins in successor states such as the Ottomans, the Safavids and also in Afghan coinage.
In numismatics, the Ashrafis are an exciting subject of study, as they not only served as a means of payment but also represent a cultural testimony to dynastic representation. The coins often feature elaborate Arabic calligraphy, religious inscriptions, rulers’ names and blessings, making them of great importance not only to collectors but also to historians.
Due to their high gold content and widespread circulation over several centuries, Ashrafis are now valuable historical witnesses to Islamic monetary and economic history. Ashrafis played a central role in trade between the Orient and the Mediterranean region in particular, as they were internationally accepted as reliable gold coins.
Their function extended far beyond mere payment transactions – they also served as diplomatic gifts, dowries or prestige objects in courtly contexts. In collector circles, original Aschrafis are now sought-after numismatic rarities, whose value can vary greatly depending on their condition, place of minting and ruler.