The inscription BYERLEY TÜRK ATI: the 2014 lira honours the Byerley Turk, one of the three foundation sires of the Thoroughbred.

This late 17th-century stallion was the war horse of Captain Robert Byerley and reached England in 1689. All modern Thoroughbreds trace back to three stallions: the Byerley Turk, the Darley Arabian and the Godolphin.

The Turkish State Mint (Darphane) issued bimetallic commemorative 1 lira coins featuring the animals of Turkey from 2009 to 2016, usually two coins at a time. The side with the denomination carries the legend TÜRKİYE CUMHURİYETİ, the inscription 1 TÜRK LİRASI and the date.

The coin went on sale on 14 February 2014 together with its companion, the Anatolian Eagle lira.

For a collection this is the Byerley Turk Horse slot in the 2014 Fauna of Turkey series, and together with its companion coin it completes the issue. Uncirculated (UNC) condition means the coin has never been in circulation: there is no wear and the original mint lustre is intact.

You can compare this coin with the country’s other issues in the VPcoins catalogue.