2020-09-08 Tue

Mustafa IV was Ottoman sultan from 1807 to 1808 who participated in the reactionary conservative coalition that overthrew his reforming cousin, the sultan Selim III.

He was born on September 8, 1779, to Sultan Abdul Hamid and Sineperver Sultan. He was raised to the throne on 29th May 1807, by the reactionary Janissaries who had deposed Mustafa's cousin, Selim III, because they opposed his attempted reforms. When a Turkish army marched on the capital to restore Selim, Mustafa had him murdered, but the rebels killed Mustafa and placed his brother, Mahmud II, on the throne.

The above shown gold Zeri Mahbub was issued under his reign from Constantinople mint. The obverse of a coin depicts Tugrah calligraphy followed by the mint and the accession year of the Sultan ‘Zarb Fi Qustuntuniya 1222’ at the bottom. The reverse of a coin illustrates the inscription ‘Sultan Al Barin Wa Khaqan Al Bahrin As Sultan Bin 2 As Sultan’.

Image Source: Heritage Auctions