Medieval Balkans

This thread deals with coins from Medieval Balkan region. It will cover coins from Serbia, Bosnia, Greece and most of South-Eastern Europe. Anyone who has any specimens of there own that they would like to post, I'd love to see them.

~Daniel.

 

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These first two specimens were issued for the Kingdom of Serbia under King: Stefan Uros I 1243-1276 AD and King: Stefan Dragutin 1276-1282 AD. Most early Serbian coins were very similar to coins from Venice and the Byzantine Empire from the re pattern, weight and content. The following two coins are from under Stefan I and Dragutin which were modeled after the Venetian Gros coins. Both coins show the respective leaders along side a saint with text bearing name and status on the obverse. The reverse for both coins show Christ enthroned with the intials IC/XC. The main difference between both specimens is the lengend on the obverse. The coin for Stefan I is marked 'STEFANVS-REX- VROSIVS '. Dragutin's coin is marked 'STEFANVS-REX -STEFAN'.



SERBIA (KINGDOM)~AR Dinar 1243-1276 AD



SERBIA (KINGDOM)~AR Dinar 1276-1282 AD

 

This is a group of silver Dinars issued under King/Tsar: Stefan Uros IV (Dusan) 1331-1355 AD and his son Tsar: Stefan Uros V. Dusan held two titles during his reign. Dusan was a king from 1331-1346, then was crowned Tsar in 1346 and reigned until his death in 1355. The first coin was issued when Dusan was a king. The obverse shows Dusan and his wife Elena standing with the king's intials in Cyrillic. The reverse shows Christ enthroned with the initials IC/XC. The second is a Coronation Dinar struck in 1346 AD. The obverse shows two angels crowning Dusan tsar with his initials and title in Cyrillic. The reverse shows Christ enthroned. This issue marked Serbias rise from a kingdom to an empire, and the countrys zenith of power. The third coin is an imperial issue showing Dusan with Elena on the obverse along with name and title in Latin legend: 'INPERATOR/STEFANU'. The reverse shows Christ standing holding a scepter with intials: ID/XD. The third is a Helm Dinar showing Dusan's crested helm on the obverse with his name and title in Latin: 'INPERATOR/STEFANU'. The reverse shows Christ enthroned with the Latin initials: N/C. The fifth, is a silver Horseback Dinar showing Dusan's intials marked at both the top left and right in Cyrillic legend on the obverse side. The reverse shows the typical image of Christ in glory with the initials IC/XC in Roman legend. This is one of many varieties of the Horseback Dinars issued during Dusan's reign.
While Dusan brought Serbia to it's height of power, his son Tsar: Stefan Uros V 1355-1371 AD, caused the empire to quickly unravel. Known as Stefan the Feeble due to his poor leadership, he had numerous nobles, despots other local rulers who didn't acknowledge his status as tsar. He did however, use similar designs on his coins as his late father. The example shown is a Helm Dinar showing Uros enthroned, holding a cruciform scepter, with his name and title in Cyrillic:OUSH/CR-'UROS/TSAR'. The reverse shows Uros's Crested helm, with his name and title in Latin: VROSIVSI/MPERATOR.



SERBIA (KINGDOM)~AR Dinar 1331-1346 AD



SERBIAN EMPIRE~AR Dinar c.1346 AD



SERBIAN EMPIRE~AR Dinar 1346-1355 AD



SERBIAN EMPIRE~AR Helm Dinar 1346-1355 AD



SERBIAN EMPIRE~AR Horseback Dinar (Var. 1) 1346-1355 AD



SERBIAN EMPIRE~AR Helm Dinar 1355-1371 AD

 

This specimen is a silver Dinar under King: Vukašin Mrnjavčević (1365-1371 AD). Vukašin reigned in the area that is now part of north-western Macedonia. He was intially given the title of 'despot' by Tsar: Stefan Uros V, then became king in 1365. This coin showed signs that Serbia's unity was wavering since it was issued during the same period as Stefan V's. Vukašin's short reign ended when he was killed in a battle against a Turkish regiment in 1371.
The obverse side shows 5 lines in Cyrillic legend: ' ВБХА/БАБЛГО/ВЪРNHИ/КРАВЛЬ/КАШЬ = IN CHRIST OUR GOD PIOUS KING VUKASIN'. The reverse shows Christ enthroned with intials in Roman text: IC/XC.



SERBIAN EMPIRE~AR Dinar 1365-1371 AD

 

Serving as the last official ruler of the Serbian Empire, Knez/Prince: Lazar Hrebeljanović, aquired his title from Stefan Uros V, and took power in 1371 in northern Serbia. While Lazar was a pledged vassal to Uros, he refused to serve in the 'Battle of Marica' where large portion of the Serbian imperial army was destroyed by the Ottoman Turks. As a result, Lazar was the most powerful noble not under Ottoman influence. Lazar thwarted the first attack from the Turks and had a brief pause in hostilities. However in 1389, Lazar's forces faced off with the Turks at the 'Battle of Kosovo' also known as the 'Field of the Black Birds' where he was defeated and executed along with most of his political hierarchy, thus bringing an official end to Serbia's short lived empire.
The coin posted is a silver dinar with 5 lines in Cyrillic legend: 'ВБХА/БАБЛГО/ВЪРNHИ/КНЕЗЬЛ/АЗАРЬ = IN CHRIST OUR GOD PIOUS PRINCE LAZAR' on the obverse side. The reverse shows Christ enthroned with initials in Roman legend: IC/XC.



SERBIAN EMPIRE~AR Dinar 1371-1389 AD

 

Nobleman: Vuk Branković served as the Master of Kosovo and was the son-in-law of Prince Lazar. He fought in the 'Battle of Kosovo' and was one of the few members of the imperial hierarchy to survive the battle. Vuk was and still is considered by many Serb nationals to be a traitor because he appeared to act independently of Lazar, although there is no evidence to support this. Because of the smaller territory that Vuk still controlled, he had neither the power nor sources for independence. Unofficial sources report that Vuk was imprisoned in 1395, and remained so until his death in 1397.
The first coin posted is a silver Dinar showing Vuk standing holding scepter with Cyrillic legend: 'ВЛЬКЬ/ВЛЬКЬ = VUK/VUK' on the obverse side. The reverse shows Christ enthroned with the moneyers name in Cyrillic: 'ГАК/ВЬ = JAK(O)V'.
The second is a silver Dinar with 4 lines in Cyrillic legend: '+ВЛЬКЬ/ОВЬДН/NАРЬ/МГА = 'VUK DINAR' with Moneyers initials JAKOV on the obverse side. The reverse shows Christ enthroned holding book of gospels. This coin is unique in that it was on of the few medieval coins with the denomination marked on it.



SERBIA~AR Dinar 1371-1395 AD (Type 1)



SERBIA~AR Dinar 1371-1395 AD (Type 2)

 

After the crushing defeat at the Battle of Kosovo, the Serbian Empire was laid to ruin. Following Lazar's execution, his son Stefan Lazarević Hrebeljanović assumed the throne. During his reign, Lazarević held two titles. From 1389 to 1402, he reigned as Prince under the vassal of the Ottoman Empire. Then in 1402, he became a Despot after the Ottoman Empire's temporary collapse, until his death in 1427. Numerous coins were issued under Lazarevic both as a Prince and a Despot.
The first specimen is a silver Dinar issued from 1389-1402 during Lazarević's reign as prince. The obverse shows an ox-horned helm which was used by the Lazarević family with legend in Roman text: CON~V=COUNT/PRINCE. The reverse shows Christ enthroned holding the book of gospels.
The second specimen is a silver Dinar issued from 1402-1427 when Lazarević governed as a despot. The obverse shows 4-lined legend in Cyrillic: 'ВЬХА/БАДЕСП/ОТСТЕ/ФАNЬ=IN CHRIST OUR GOD LORD STEFAN'. The reverse shows Christ in glory holding the book of gospels with intials in Roman text: IC/XC.



SERBIA (PRINCIPALITY)~AR Dinar 1389-1402 AD



SERBIA (DESPOTATE)~AR Dinar 1402-1427 AD

 

After Stefan Lazarević's death, his nephew Djuradj Branković was appointed as despot in 1427. Djuradj who was the son of Vuk Branković, was the first in his family to achieve royal status. He was partially successful at holding together what remained of Serbia's statehood by allying himself with Hungary where he also served as a Baron. During his reign, he moved the capital to Smederevo which was captured by the Ottoman Empire in 1439 and he was forced to abdicate his throne but was reinstated in 1444. Djuradj died in 1456 leaving his first son Lazar Brankovic who reigned only two years from 1456 to 1458 when he died. Lazar was then succeeded by his brother Stefan Branković III who ruled from 1458 till he was dethroned by Stjepan Tomasevic Kotromanic of Bosnia in 1459.
The two specimens posted issued under Djuradj Branković, were among the last coins for Serbia before being completely absorbed into the Ottoman Empire. The first is a silver Dinar showing 4 Lines in Cyrillic legend: ' ГNЬ / ДЕСПО / ТЬГЮ / РГЬ = LORD / DESPOT / DJURADJ ' on the obverse. The reverse shows the Branković family crest, the rampant lion surrounde by 4 stars. The second is a silver Aspra showing Djuradj standing wearing a cape, holding a sword and orb, title on rim in Cyrillic: ' ДЕСПОТ-ГЮРЬГЬ=DESPOT-DJURADJ ' on the obverse side. The reverse shows a rampant lion with the mint name in Cyrillic legend: ' СМДРВО=SMEDEREVO '. The third is a silver Aspra measuring 11 mm wide. The obverse show Djuradj's monogram: 'ГЮРЬГЬ=DJURADJ' with lillies and stars on the rim. The reverse show Djuradj's title: 'ДЕСПОТЬ=DESPOT' with lillies and stars on the rim.



SERBIA (DESPOTATE)~AR Dinar 1427-1456 AD



SERBIA (DESPOTATE)~AR Aspra 1427-1456 AD (Type 1)



SERBIA (DESPOTATE)~AR Aspra 1427-1456 AD (Type 2)

 

Here are a couple of specimens from the medieval Balkans. The first is a silver Dinar from the BANATE OF BOSNIA issued under the reign of Ban: Stjepan Kotromanic II 1322-1353 AD. The second is a silver Grosh from the KINGDOM OF BOSNIA issued under the reign of King: Tvrtko Kotromanic II 1404-1408 and 1421-1443 AD.



BOSNIA (BANATE)~AR Dinar 1322-1353 AD



BOSNIA (KINGDOM)~AR Grosh 1404-1408 and 1421-1443 AD

 

The next two are coins are from the Principalities of MOLDAVIA and WALLACHIA (now part of Romania and Moldova). The first specimen is a silver Groschen from Moldavia issued during the reign of Prince: Petru Musat I 1375-1391 AD. These were among the first coins struck for Moldavia, and Petru I had numerous coins minted that had patterns that would set the standard for later rulers. The second specimen is silver Ducat from Wallachia issued during the reign of Prince: Mircea I (The Elder) 1386-1418 AD. Mircea helped strengthen his country's status politically and economically in the region, and managed to control the most territory in it's history. On an added note, Mircea I was the grandfather of Vlad Tepes III~The Impaler (AKA-Count Dracula). The third specimen is a copper Bani from Wallachia 1429-1435 AD?. It is listed as being issued under Ban: Nicolae Redwitz, but some Romanian numismatists believe this might have actually been issued under Prince: Dan II (1420-1431 AD). The obverse show a crowned shield with a cross of the Teutonic Knights and initial. The reverse, while weakly struck, shows the leader standing, holding a scepter, and legend along the rim. The 'Bani' is a division of the 'Leu', and is still used in Romanian currency today.



MOLDAVIA (PRINCIPALITY)~AR Groschen 1375-1391 AD



WALLACHIA (PRINCIPALITY)~AR Ducat 1386-1418 AD



WALLACHIA~AE Bani 1429-1435?

 

Another formidable power in the Balkans was the BULGARIAN EMPIRE. Bulgaria stood as an empire twice in their history. The first empire lasted from 632-1018 AD when it was overrun by the Byzantine Empire. The Bulgarian Empire was restored in 1186 AD (sometimes referred to as the Second Bulgarian Empire) and would reign, next to Serbia, as a major power in Southeastern Europe until 1396 AD, when they were conquered by the Ottoman Empire. The following specimen is a silver Groschen issued during the reign of Tsar: Ivan Asen I 1189-1196 AD.



BULGARIAN EMPIRE (SECOND)~AR Groschen 1189-1196 AD

 

The next coin is a billon Trachy from the KINGDOM OF THESSALONICA 1200-1224 AD. Thessalonica was a short lived crusader state that was a vassal of the Latin Empire. In 1210 AD, the Despotate of Epirus lead an attack against Thessalonica until the territory was conquered and annexed by Epirus in 1224 AD. The ruler for which this coin was issued under is yet unknown.



THESSALONICA (KINGDOM)~Billon Trachy 1200-1224 AD

 

This next specimen is a billon Denier from the DESPOTATE OF EPIRUS 1294-1313 AD. It was issued during the rule of Despot: Philip de Taranto. These were Frankish coins that were circulated in the region that is now part of northwestern Greece and Albania.



EPIRUS (DESPOTATE)~Billon Denier 1294-1313 AD

 

The Venetians also had a strong influence in Balkan region, especially on the Dalmatian coast and the Aegean islands. This first specimen is a gold Zecchino from CHIOS which was issued under Doge/Duke: Philip Maria Visconti 1415-1436 AD. The Zecchino had a similar pattern to the Venetian Ducat. The second specimen is a copper Fallaro from CATTARO/KOTOR 1569-1571. Cattaro was a walled city on the southern Adriatic coast, and is now known as 'Kotor' in Montenegro.



CHIOS~AV Zecchino 1415-1436 AD



CATTARO/KOTOR (MUNICIPAL)~AE Fallaro 1569-1571

 

Fascinating coins, but perhaps a bit too ambitious of a thread. I know most forum members don't want to read quite so much text.

I'll share my soul remaining Crusader coin:

Charles II of Anjou
Frankish Greece: Achaea
AR denier – 18mm
Clarentia mint, 1285-1289 AD
+K R PRINC’ ACh’
cross patée
+DE CLARENTIA
castle tornouis surmounted by cross
Malloy 12

 

This next section deals with the BANATE OF SLAVONIA (also called the 'Banovina of Slavonia'). Slavonia was formed in the 13th century as a province of Hungary and lasted until 1476 AD, when it joined with the Banate of Croatia. Slavonia is now part of modern Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina. The first specimen is a silver Denar issued under Ban: Heinrich von Gussing, dating from 1269 to 1270 AD. The second is silver Groschen issued under Ban: Stjepan Babonic, dating from 1280 to 1282 AD (?) *.



SLAVONIA (BANATE)~AR Denar 1269-1270 AD



SLAVONIA (BANATE)~AR Groschen 1280-1282 AD (?)

*- Although there are no records of the Groschen listed, references lead to it being issued by ruler listed above. Changes will be made in the future if necessary.

 

Thanks 'Ardatirion' for the comment and the advice. Sorry if I got a little wordy in my descriptions. I'll try to simplify. By the way, nice Frankish coin. It has alot of detail for it's type. Most of these are in mediocre to poor condition. Thanks for sharing.

~Daniel.

 

Great stuff guys. Very interesting and a topic not covered by many folks. I have a few denars from Hungary. Traci :kewl:

 

Nice coins Traci. While Hungary might not actually be part of the Balkans, they did have a very strong influence in the region. In fact, Slavonia (now Northern Croatia) and Bosnia were vassals of Hungary at one point. Thanks for sharing.

~Daniel.

 

Here are a couple of WW I Balkan foes. Bulgar and Serb. I kinda admire Peter I quite the fellow. Traci