Medieval Balkans

What a wonderful selection, this is my only one (I think LOL)



Second Empire. Ivan Aleksandar, with Mihail Ansen IV. 1331–1371. Silver Grosh (20mm, 1.86 g). Type II. Struck circa 1331-1355. Christ, nimbate, standing facing, raising hands in benediction; IC XC flanking head, monograms and pellets to either side / Ivan and Mihail standing facing, each holding scepter; banner between, stars flanking shaft; monograms around figures.

 

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Thanks for sharing 'De Orc'. The Bulgarian coins of that time, while cruder in design, were similar to the earlier coins issued in Serbia. Serbia also had some coins from same time period with Bulgarian counter-marks on them. I don't have any in my possession, but I've seen images these.

~Daniel.

 

Thanks for sharing these as well Traci. I have a few specimens from modern Serbia that I'll post in the near future on a separate thread.

~Daniel.

 

Yes, this is an ambitious thread & I just wanted to thank you for it. I am not that familiar with the geography of the region. I pulled-out my world atlas and tried to visualize where all these cool coins were circulating.

 

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. Serbia was a major power in the region during the mid 14th century, but quickly unraveled by 1371 AD and was totally toppled in 1389 AD . I'm including an attachment of a map that I rendered a long time ago. It shows the outline of the region including the Serbian Empire, Banate of Bosnia and other territories. It's crude since it was hand rendered and there might be some discrepencies, but I hope it helps.

 

Here are two coins from the islands of RHODES under the Order of the Knights of St. John. The first is a silver Gigliato issued under Grandmaster: Juan Fernandez de Heredia 1376-1396 AD. This was overstruck on a coin issued by the previous grandmaster Robert d'Anjou. The second is silver Gigliato issued under Grandmaster: Philabert de Naillac 1396-1421 AD. The Knights of St. John were assigned to protect Rhodes, during the crusades, from the Ottoman Empire which had threatened Southeastern Europe. It's operation in Rhodes ran from 1310-1523. Later they were stationed in Malta from 1530-1798.



RHODES~AR Gigliato 1376-1396 AD



RHODES~AR Gigliato 1396-1421 AD

 

This next specimen is a silver Grosso from the REPUBLIC OF RAGUSA (now Dubrovnik, Croatia) 1372-1383 AD. The city of Ragusa was established in 614 AD, and became a republic in 1358 after it gained independence from Venice.



RAGUSA (REPUBLIC)~AR Grosso 1372-1383 AD

 

This next coins is a silver Dinar from the KINGDOM OF SERBIA. It was issued under the reign of King: Stefan Uros III~Decanski (1321-1331 AD). Decanski was the son of Stefan Uros II~Milutin and and had a very turbulent life. In 1314, after a quarrel with his father, Milutin had his son taken to Constantinople to be blinded. He wasn't blinded properly, but did have to wear a bandage around his eyes. He was permitted to return to Serbia, but had to fight many pretenders to the throne before being crowned in 1321. His neighbors Bulgaria and the Byzantine Empire formed an alliance in which they planned to invade Serbia in 1330. However, Decanski came out victorious at the Battle of Velbuzhd where he defeated Bulgaria and killed the Bulgarian tsar Mikhail Asen III. This was his biggest during his short reign. Taking advantage of the situation, Decanski was able to push the border south into Macedonia. Decanski's fortunes took a turn for the worst when some of his courtiers became discontent with his policies. They then plotted to have Decanski dethroned in favor of his son Dusan. Decanski was imprisoned at the castle of Zvecan, where he was killed by strangulation in 1331. Following his death, Decanski was cannonized by the Serbian Orthodox Church.



SERBIA (KINGDOM)~AR Dinar 1321-1331 AD

 

Not medieval but a real old Balkan 300 BC. Alexander the Great. Traci

 

Very nice Traci. Alexander's empire was immense. While he only controlled south-eastern Europe during his reign, his domain covered the majority of what is modern Turkey and Central Asia up to the Himalayas, Pamir range and the frontier of India. Thanks for sharing this.

~Daniel