Dictionary

mahbub en · NOUN

Etymology

From Arabic مَحْبُوب (maḥbūb, “gold coin; beloved”).

Meanings

1. A gold coin used in the Ottoman Empire.
   • At Grand Cairo in Egypt, contracts are made in funducli and mahbub sequins; the former are reckoned at 146 medini, and 3 mahbubs are equal to 4 pataccas, so that the mahbub is worth 120 medini. 1819, Abraham Rees, The Cyclopædia: Or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature:
   • The only coins allowed by the Turkish government to be struck at Cairo are the Mahbub (or Zermahbub) Sequins, and Medini. 1811, Patrick Kelly, The universal cambist, and commercial instructor, page 83:
   • His ready cash consisted of eight hundred thousand mahbub and funduclys; the rest of his treasure was in jewels, to the amount of about six million of ducats. 1783, Sauveur Lusignan, A history of the Revolution of Ali Bey against the Ottoman Porte, page 119:

Forms

Synonyms

zermahbub