Unicode Block - Ottoman Siyaq Numbers
Ottoman Siyaq Numbers is a numerical notation system used in Ottoman Turkish administrative and financial documents, employing a unique set of symbols derived from the Arabic abjad tradition to represent numbers, fractions, and accounting values. This script, which evolved from earlier Islamic siyaq practices, encodes a variety of numeric forms including units, tens, hundreds, and thousands, as well as specialized notations for monetary amounts and weights. The characters are designed for vertical stacking and compact writing, reflecting their practical use in ledgers and legal records. Today, they are preserved in digital form to support historical research and the accurate digitization of Ottoman-era manuscripts, ensuring that this sophisticated arithmetic system remains accessible for scholars studying the empire’s economic history.