Turkish Gold Coin Traditions: Çeyrek, Yarım and Tam at Weddings and Births

In Turkey, small gold coins called çeyrek (quarter), yarım (half) and tam (full) are the traditional gift at weddings, engagements, births and circumcision celebrations. Guests pin them onto the bride and groom or onto a newborn's clothing, and the coins become a store of family gold that is often kept for years.

As goldsmiths in Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, we see these customs constantly around us, though we do not sell coins ourselves; our work is solid 14K gold jewelry. Here is a clear guide to the coins, the customs and how they connect to Turkish jewelry culture.

What are çeyrek, yarım and tam coins?

The coins most people mean are the Republic gold coins (Cumhuriyet altını) minted by the Turkish State Mint. They are 22 karat gold, stamped as 916, and come in a set of standard sizes named by fraction:

Because each size is double or a multiple of the one below, the coins work almost like a shared unit of gift-giving: everyone understands what a çeyrek or a tam represents. Exact weights are set by the mint, so treat the figures above as approximate.

Ata and Reşat coins

Two other coin families appear at celebrations. Ata coins carry a portrait of Atatürk and are also 22 karat. Reşat coins reproduce an Ottoman-era design bearing the tughra (imperial monogram) of Sultan Mehmed V Reşad, and are popular for decorative jewelry such as coin necklaces and bracelets.

If you are wondering how 22 karat compares with the 14K gold we use, our guide to 14K vs 22K gold explains the difference in purity, color and durability, and the gold karat chart shows all the common standards.

Gold coins at Turkish weddings

The best-known custom is the takı töreni, the gift-pinning ceremony that usually takes place during the wedding reception or engagement party. Guests line up to congratulate the couple and pin gold onto them, typically on a red ribbon or sash worn across the chest.

• Who gives what: friends and colleagues often give a çeyrek; close relatives may give a yarım, a tam or larger coins. Parents and grandparents frequently give jewelry such as bracelets, necklaces or sets as well.
• Bride and groom: the groom's family traditionally gives jewelry to the bride, and gold is pinned on both partners.
• A public moment: in some regions and families, the gifts are announced aloud. In others, the ceremony is more private. Customs vary widely across Turkey.

The gold is meant to help the couple start their life together. Many families keep the coins as a reserve for the household rather than spending them right away.

For brides choosing their own jewelry to wear alongside these traditions, our bridal gold jewelry guide has ideas.

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Gold coins for a new baby

When a baby is born, relatives and friends who visit the mother and newborn traditionally bring a çeyrek. The coin is often pinned to the baby's clothing, blanket or pillow with a small gold safety pin, frequently alongside a blue nazar bead to ward off the evil eye, in keeping with tradition. Read more in our article on the Turkish evil eye (nazar).

The custom has a practical side, too: the coins welcome the child and form a small savings of gold kept for the child's future.

Some families prefer a keepsake the child can wear. Gold baby bracelets with a name plate, or a small nazar pendant, are common alternatives or companions to coins. Our baby gold bracelet guide explains sizing and safety.

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Other occasions for gold coins

• Engagements (nişan): gold, including coins and a ring, is exchanged and pinned in a ceremony similar to the wedding takı.
• Circumcision celebrations (sünnet): boys are traditionally given gold coins, often pinned to a sash worn with a special costume.
• Religious holidays and milestones: some families give gold at Eid, birthdays or graduations. See our Eid gold jewelry gifts guide.
• Gold days (altın günü): a social tradition in which a group of women meet regularly and take turns receiving gold from the others.

From coin to jewelry

Gold coins have long crossed over into jewelry in Turkey. Coins are often mounted in frames and worn as pendants, strung into bridal coin necklaces and bracelets, or set into belts and headpieces in regional costume. In parts of Anatolia, rows of coins on a chain or band are a traditional part of a bride's adornment.

These pieces carry the same idea as the coins themselves: gold that is beautiful to wear and has lasting value through its weight and purity. Our article on Turkish jewelry traditions covers more customs, and Anatolian jewelry motifs looks at the symbols you will often see alongside coins.

Giving a Turkish-inspired gift from abroad

If you are attending a Turkish wedding or welcoming a baby in a Turkish family, a coin is the classic gift and can be bought from Turkish jewelers. If you want something lasting and wearable instead, solid gold jewelry fits the same spirit. Popular choices include a nazar piece, a crescent moon and star pendant, a name necklace or a baby bracelet.

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Browse our kids jewelry and jewelry sets. We ship free, tracked and insured express to the USA, UK and Europe, and each Etsy listing shows its delivery estimate, so order early if the date matters.

Frequently asked questions

What does çeyrek altın mean?

Çeyrek altın means "quarter gold." It is the smallest of the standard Turkish Republic gold coins and the most common gift at weddings and births.

What karat are Turkish gold coins?

Republic gold coins such as the çeyrek, yarım and tam are 22 karat gold, stamped 916. That is purer and softer than the 14K (585) gold used for most everyday jewelry.

Why do Turks pin gold on the bride and groom?

Pinning gold is a way to congratulate the couple publicly and help them start their household. The gold is often kept as a family reserve for years.

What gold gift is given for a Turkish baby?

Traditionally a çeyrek coin, pinned to the baby's clothes or pillow, often with a nazar bead. Gold baby bracelets and small pendants are also popular gifts.

Do you sell Turkish gold coins?

No. We are goldsmiths making solid 14K gold jewelry, including nazar pieces, name jewelry and baby bracelets that suit many of the same occasions.