Ottoman Empire Currency: Kharub Coin Design and Mint

Illustrated Specimen Details: 2 Kharub of Ottoman Tunisia

Example Specimen: 2 Kharub, 1865 (Ottoman Tunisia)

Authority & Design: This historical copper coin represents the monetary system of Ottoman Tunisia. Following the visual layout, the reverse features the denomination "۲" (2) alongside the name of the issuing state and the name and title of the ruler inscribed in elegant Arabic calligraphy. The obverse prominently displays the date "۱۲۸۱", which corresponds to the year 1281 in the Islamic calendar (AH, Latin "Anno Hegirae" - "the year of the Hijra"), or 1865 in the Gregorian calendar. The entire design of the coin is beautifully grounded in concentric circles and traditional plant ornaments. During this period, the region was under the dual authority of Abdulaziz, the 32nd sultan of the Ottoman Empire (ruling from 1861 to 1876), and Muhammad III as-Sadiq, the Husainid Bey of Tunis (ruling from 1859 to 1882). This specific issue, with a substantial mintage of 12,000,000 pieces, was expertly struck at the Heaton Mint in Birmingham, Great Britain.

1. OTTOMAN TUNISIA (18th-19th centuries): kharub = 1/16 rial
2. OTTOMAN ALGERIA (19th century): kharub = 1/48 budju

The linguistic origins of the kharub: The name of the kharub coin originates directly from the carob tree. In ancient times, the hard, flat, brown seed of the carob served as a highly reliable unit of weight for gems and precious metals. For example, during the era of the Roman Empire, carob seeds were utilized in the Roman weight system as a precise measure of mass, equaling approximately 0.19 grams. Thus, the name of the African kharub coin is etymologically identical to both the ancient Roman coin siliqua and the modern unit of measurement known as the carat.

History and Financial Role of the Kharub

The kharub was a prominent historical coin utilized by two neighboring North African states with closely shared histories: Algeria and Tunisia. Both nations were under the significant political influence of the Ottoman Empire and, later, France. In Ottoman Algeria, the kharub served as an essential fractional exchange coin for the local budju currency. These small billon coins were issued primarily from 1822 to 1842, prior to the French occupation. In this system, a single kharub was valued at one-forty-eighth of a budju or one-half of a mazuna.

Physical Characteristics and Mintage

Meanwhile, the kharub of Tunisia achieved widespread circulation throughout the 19th century. Depending on the specific period of issue, these coins were minted in various metals including copper, billon, and silver. They were produced in multiple fractional and multiple denominations, such as 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4, and 8 kharub. In the traditional Tunisian monetary hierarchy, one kharub was officially equal to one-sixteenth of the local rial.

Economic Role and Cultural Legacy

As a crucial component of everyday trade, the kharub facilitated small commercial transactions across the bustling markets of North Africa. Its strong presence bridged the gap between deep-rooted local economic traditions and the overarching imperial influence of the Ottoman Empire. The eventual transition from these traditional Islamic monetary systems to modern decimalized currencies gradually phased out the kharub, but it remains a fascinating subject for numismatists studying the complex financial history of the Maghreb.