Why Cats Are Greatly Loved in Turkey

My Favorite category is "Cats"

I am drawn to Cat designs when I paint coins. Of course I love all the animals and nature themes, but I have fostered bottle-fed baby kittens for almost a decade. I guess that makes me a little obsessed!

This 2015 coin is part of a Fauna series of coins from Turkey. Each year they come out with 2 new coin designs, each one featuring a different animal. The love of cats in Turkey dates back to the people who settled the city of Istanbul, the Ottomans. The mighty Ottomans worshipped cats based on their cleanliness and their ability to hunt. As a result of their long history with cats, felines have become an essential part of Turkish culture and the city of Istanbul.

Another interesting feature is that the coin is "bi-metal" with the center made of brass WITH a goldtone color, while the outside ring is a silver color. The color change isn't too evident on the painted side of the coin, but the other side it is very obvious and attractive. ​