A silver coin of the Ottoman Empire, originally issued under Soleiman II (A.H. 1099). The name recalls the Gros, Groschen, and Groat, and by travellers it was termed Piastre, which however must not be confusedwith the modern coin of the same name.

The name of the coin is variously written Grush, Gurush, Gersch, etc. The later issues are of billon. See Asadi Ghrush and Guerche.

Its value was forty Paras, and the issues for Egypt in billon were equal to forty Medins.

The modern Egyptian nickel coin of five Milliemes is known as a Guersh.

A silver coin of Abyssinia, the one twentieth part of the Talari (q.v.). Under the reign of Menelik, however, a decree was passed abolishing the decimal system, and making the Guerche the one texteenth of the Talari. The name is synonymous to Ghrush (q.v.), or Piastre. Copper Guerches and their subdivisions were issued by Menelik previous to the silver pieces.