The Turkish mint has distributed the Republic’s first coins not to feature Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s visage on either of its sides, daily Cumhuriyet reported.The coins, a million of which are now in use, were made as souvenirs to mark the 10th anniversary of the Turkish Olympics, an event in which children from around the world come to Turkey to display their prowess in Turkish.
The use of coins has stirred a public debate as some citizens disliked the new arrangement, saying it was part of planned state propaganda to discredit modern Turkey's founder.
"It's unacceptable that these coins, supposedly made as souvenirs, are being used," one person told Cumhuriyet (Hurriyet Daily News)
