The Story of Sabiha Tansuğ, the First Woman whose Picture Was Printed on Money

With his upturned nose, slightly pointed and small chin, and the Anatolian cap, which he valued so much, it was worth 50 kuruş. a woman’s face on a coin was shining. This person was none other than Sabiha Tansuğ.

Since childhood years; with their hobbies, interests and achievements. doing great work Sabiha If you are ready to learn the adventurous 50 kuruş story of Tansuğ, let’s get started.

Sabiha Hanım’s interest in titles starts from a very young age.

Born in Komotini in 1933, Tansuğ moved to Turkey with his family when he was 8 years old. When he went on a show in elementary school a bridal headdress called “eğribaş” and his interest in this title becomes the turning point of his life.

Since his childhood was spent in poverty, he had to start life at a young age and his interest in hats continued unabated. Tansuğ studying at Göztepe Institute; sewing, various hats, local clothes and puppets makes and sells them.

His admiration for Anatolian and folk culture increases day by day and he prepares the ground for his future works.

When Tansuğ went to Istanbul in 1953, Famous for Anatolian woman portraits He begins to take painting lessons from the painter Nuri İyem and his interest in Anatolian folk culture increases.

in 1964, Turkish coffees takes inspiration and opens the Turkish Pierre Loti Coffeehouse on the Pierre Loti hill in Istanbul. The demand for this place is so high that it can only be seated by reservation. But Sabiha Hanım starts to receive threats. No official goes after the business and unfortunately eventually shuts down the coffee shop.

He meets an old friend by chance again: “the crook”

One day, he sets out to write one of the newspaper articles and his car breaks down in Milas. Tansug, who spent some time here, when you stop by a village cafe He encounters a great coincidence.

He sees the “Eğribaş” that he is impressed by in primary school and immediately buys it. From that day, adventure-filled Anatolian travels begin. On these trips, different and traditional women will collect hats.

Sait Tanaçan, the manager of the mint at that time, was interested in Sabiha Tansuğ’s work and wanted to print a photograph of him with a caption on a coin.

With the title Sabiha Tansuğ Hanım, “Oguz Turks Ankara Women’s Head”, it is now over 50 kuruş and will remain so from 1971 to 1989. First time, non-political A people’s woman is on the money. Tansuğ expresses his gratitude with these words:

“Women portraits are limited to empresses. There have always been men in history. The first country to do this is the Republic of Türkiye. Actually, it’s not me on the money, it’s history. A motif dating back to Hittite The bridal headpiece, which was on it, was displayed on the coin through me.”

A collection of titles that attracts great attention in every country it visits; It helps to introduce Turkey to the world.

Titles collected by Sabiha Hanım; from Japan to Italy, from the Netherlands to Belgium; exhibited all over the world. The hat exhibition attracts a lot of attention in different countries and Turkey is becoming more and more popular, but what really goes through Tansuğ’s heart a museum in its own country is to open.

Sabiha Hanım decides to talk to one of the politicians of the time, Fahrettin Kerim Gökay, about this issue, but it is quite derogatory and sexist confronted with an attitude. Gökay relates what the authorities said as follows: “We’re not going to stay with one woman.”

On top of this humiliating attitude, Tansuğ does not give up chasing his ideals and continues to collect Anatolian titles until the 80s.

In the process of collecting titles, he wrote over 200 articles and 2 books (Turkmen Clothing, Love of Flowers in Turks and Sümbülnâme). While all this was going on takes a new blow430 pieces from his collection are stolen.

In 2010, the idea of ​​the museum is still in his mind and he begins to strive to bring it to life. Never give up on your ideals vacate his own flat and rents another flat for himself. He turns his old house into a museum.

His efforts finally pay off, and he opens his museum with the support of his friends.

Until 2010; Tansuğ is the recipient of the Trojan Folklore Research Association Pertev Naili Boratav Folklore Award, the Anatolian Association of Folk Dance Research and Exhibition (HASAD) Turkish Folklore Research Award and the Pen World Women’s Writers Association Award. opened in Mecidiyeköy with the support of his friends. “Sabiha Tansuğ Art and Culture House” begins to exhibit the remaining pieces in the museum.

Sabiha Tansuğ, the woman of the Republic who helped carry our history up to the present, passed away this year, leaving behind an adventurous life story and wonderful works.

Sabiha Tansuğ’s exhibited collection, Different pieces from the 16th century to the 1950s contains. He passed away at the age of 88 in the current year 2023, but his spirit and works continue to live in his museum.