Turkey 500 Lira UNC Banknote | 1983–1984 | P#195

Obverse | Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

The front features a portrait of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey. His portrait continues the shared obverse identity seen across the E7 Emission Group.

Blue tones dominate the note, while the denomination and Central Bank inscriptions are arranged around the portrait. Moreover, the larger 140 × 72 mm format gives the 500 Lira a noticeably stronger visual presence than the preceding 10 and 100 Lira denominations.

As a result, collectors moving through the E7 sequence can see both continuity in the Atatürk portrait and a clear increase in scale as the face values rise.

Reverse | İzmir Clock Tower

The reverse features the İzmir Clock Tower, one of the city’s most recognizable architectural landmarks. Standing prominently within the composition, the tower gives P#195 a clear geographic identity centered on western Türkiye.

Unlike the literary reverse of P#194, this denomination focuses on architecture rather than a historical figure or written text. Consequently, the 500 Lira broadens the thematic range of the E7 series while remaining visually easy to identify.

For thematic collectors, the Clock Tower also makes P#195 relevant to collections centered on İzmir, clock towers, public monuments, urban landmarks, and Turkish architecture on banknotes.

• Issuing Bank: Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey.
• Emission Group: E7.
• Series I Issue Date: 1 July 1983.
• Series II Issue Date: 21 May 1984.
• Dimensions: Approximately 140 × 72 mm.
• Front Color: Blue.
• Reverse Color: Blue.

The E7 500 Lira was issued in two principal series. Both retain the same Atatürk obverse and İzmir Clock Tower reverse, but their signature combinations differ.

The 1983 Series I carries the signatures of Osman Şıklar and Ruhi Haseski. The 1984 Series II carries Yavuz Canevi and Ruhi Haseski.

In addition, P#195 is known with more than one Atatürk watermark appearance. Collectors may encounter lighter or darker portrait details depending on the production variety. Therefore, denomination collectors may choose one example, while specialists can pursue signature and watermark differences separately.

Why the İzmir Clock Tower Makes P#195 Distinctive

The Clock Tower gives this denomination a very direct city identity. Rather than using a broad landscape or several monuments at once, P#195 centers the reverse on one recognizable İzmir landmark.

That simplicity works well from a collector’s perspective. The design is easy to identify within a mixed Turkish album and creates a clear thematic distinction from P#193 and P#194.

How P#195 Expands the E7 Sequence

The first three denominations of this developing E7 set already cover very different themes. P#193 focuses on children and education, while P#194 introduces Mehmet Akif Ersoy, the National Anthem, and Ankara heritage.

P#195 then shifts westward to İzmir and architectural imagery. Consequently, the sequence becomes more geographically and thematically diverse as it progresses.

Within the E7 sequence we are building, the 500 Lira P#195 follows the 10 Lira P#193 and 100 Lira P#194. It therefore occupies the third denomination position in this developing set.

The jump from 100 to 500 Lira also marks another major increase in face value. Therefore, P#195 begins the higher-value section of the group while maintaining the same overall Atatürk-centered E7 identity.

• Single banknote: One authentic Turkey 500 Lira note.
• P#195: E7 catalogue reference issued in two principal series.
• Atatürk obverse: Features Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on the front.
• İzmir reverse: Features the iconic İzmir Clock Tower.
• UNC condition: Suitable for clean album presentation and archival storage.
• Series position: Third denomination and first major high-value step in the developing E7 group.

• Use archival protection: Store the banknote inside an acid-free currency sleeve.
• Preserve UNC surfaces: Handle carefully by the edges and minimize direct contact.
• Record the variety: Note signatures, prefix, and watermark appearance when cataloguing your P#195 example.
• Control the environment: Keep the note away from excessive humidity, heat, and prolonged direct sunlight.

The Turkey 500 Lira P#195 combines Mustafa Kemal Atatürk with the iconic İzmir Clock Tower, creating a strong architecture-focused third denomination in the E7 Turkish Lira series.