Collections

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Largest coin collection of Turkey

The museum which bears Tör's name was established in 1992. These collections were started in the 1950s, largely thanks to the initiative of Vedat Nedim Tör. They are regularly displayed on a thematic and rotational basis, and include coin, embroidery, fabric, manuscript, tombac, chaplet, Karagöz and other collections. Each exhibition is accompanied by a scholarly catalogue, while visual materials are obtained from the works of researchers and expertise is provided concerning various antique objects. The museum honors Vedat Nedim Tör, who for many years, from the inception of Yapı Kredi, directed all its culture and art activities, helped launch major competitions, was instrumental in starting research into and the collection of folk dances, and had numerous publications to his credit. All of this made Yapı Kredi a leader in these various realms, and primarily to encourage a scholarly exploitation of the collections held by the Bank while contributing to the cultural life of the nation by displaying them for the public. The Museum can be visited free of charge and also provides counseling and expertise testimony for researchers and collectors. 

The Coin Collection

This comprises the major portion of the Museum's hoard of antique objects, comprising 55,000 coins of numerous civilizations, from the 6th century B.C. to the present day. Through a policy of highly selective acquisition from the largest and finest collections in the land, this collection now vies with those of major museums around the world. Concentrated on coins from Islamic nations, and from such periods as the Emevid, Abbasid, Mameluke, Ilhanid and Ottoman, the collection boasts an Emevid coin struck in the year 696 by the Caliph Abdulmelik which is one of only two extant in the entire world. The Museum also possesses a not inconsiderable number of Greek, Roman and Byzantine coins, of a quality that cannot be dismissed.

The Ethnographical Collection

An important part of the collections held by the Vedat Nedim Tör Museum consists of ethnographical objects - everyday items such as embroidery, Turkish fabrics, tombac, silver and chaplets. Acquired in the early 1950s, in time these objects were transformed into rich collections, of which the embroidery consists of 500 items embodying all the refinements of this Turkish art, while the fabrics number 190 items, woven during the 18th and 19th centuries in Turkey's mills and small shops. The embroidery and fabric collections are supplemented by Yörük kilims and saddlebags, stockings, scalloped needle-work, and crocheted purses. There is also an assortment of highly unusual tombac, 50 items in all.
The chaplet collection includes nearly 300 items, made from a number of organic materials, balsam, ivory, coral, gold, emerald, amber and pearls being some examples.

Another collection in which the Museum takes pride is that of Karagöz figures, formerly belonging to Ragıp Tuğtekin (1892-1973), who is widely considered one of the most colorful exponents of the shadow play to be active early in our century. This collection is rounded out by two precious manuscripts describing Karagöz technique and dramatic material.

The Special Atatürk Section

The jewel in the crown of Museum's collection is certain papers and personal effects which belonged to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The letters which he penned to his mother, his sister, and Falih Rıfkı Atay; his watch; and the musical cigarette case given to him by the king of Jordan are all priceless national treasures. A collection of forty thousand photographs depicting Atatürk and his time is also a valued part of then section.

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