How should banknotes be used for a longer lifespan?

Where and how are soiled and mutilated banknotes exchanged?

Are there any restrictions on the reproduction and publication of illustrations and images of the banknotes?

What should be done if a counterfeit banknote is captured?

Is using soiled and mutilated banknotes hazardous to health?

Where can I buy withdrawn Turkish Lira banknotes?

Where can I exchange withdrawn banknotes whose redemption periods still persists?

Where can I find information on coins?

To increase the quality of the banknotes in circulation;

1. Due care and attention should be paid in order not to mutilate banknotes,
2. Banknotes should not be wrinkled, perforated and written on,
3. Torn banknotes should not be taped,
4. The habit of wallet usage should be exercised,
5. Soiled and mutilated banknotes should be exchanged at our branches or banking system.

Whole banknotes whose values can be identified but are soiled, washed, painted, burnt, torn or mutilated for other reasons and banknotes whose surface deficiency is less than 50 % are exchanged at par. Banknotes with 50 % surface deficiency are exchanged with new ones at half face value. Banknotes with surface deficiencies more than 50 % are not exchanged.

Soiled, mutilated banknotes or banknotes incurring partial physical loss can be exchanged directly at our branches and or our domestic correspondent T.C. Ziraat Bank or at banks’ and financial institutions’ branches.

Pursuant to the 4^th Article of the Law 5083, "Announcement on the Reproduction and Publication of Illustrations and Images of Banknotes"is published in Official Journal dated 24.02.2004 and 13.10.2004, no 25383 and 25612, respectively, by the Central Bank of The Republic of Turkey. Persons who fail to comply with conditions announced shall be charged with a heavy fine unless the act related to a more serious crime.

Police Forces should be informed providing them with the information regarding from whom and where the counterfeit banknote has been acquired.

Researches show that some microorganisms reproduce in higher percentage on soiled and mutilated banknotes and infections such as skin irritations, abscess in skin and gastroenteritis are observed more frequently with tellers.

Along with protective health measures, one of the most effective ways to avoid possible negative effects of soiled and mutilated banknotes is to exchange these banknotes with new ones and to use new and clean banknotes to the extent possible.

The Central Bank opens banknote depots at the T.C. Ziraat Bank branches, exchanges mutilated banknotes on site, touristic districts ranking first, encourages banks to deposit mutilated banknotes with Central Bank branches in order to ensure a clean and balanced denomination split.

You may contact collectors via the www.turknumismatik.org.tr web address to appraise withdrawn banknotes and to trade them.

Withdrawn banknotes can be exchanged at Central Bank and T.C. Ziraat Bank branches until the end of their 10-year redemption periods.

According to the act of Minting of the Circulation and Commemorative Coins no 1264, the authorized institution to issue coins is the Undersecretariat of Turkish Treasury.

General Directorate of the Turkish State Mint and Printing Plant was established by Governmental Decree no 234, enacted in 1984 and responsibility of minting and issuing coins was assigned to this General Directorate, which operates as an affiliate of the Undersecretariat of Turkish Treasury.

You may contact this institution concerning your questions on coins.

The correspondence address is as follows:

T.C. Başbakanlık Hazine Müsteşarlığı
Darphane ve Damga Matbaası Genel Müdürlüğü
Emirhan Cad. No:1 Dikilitaş
Beşiktaş 80776 İstanbul-Türkiye
Web: http://www.darphane.gov.tr
E-mail: darphane@darphane.gov.tr