The Bulgarian Medieval coins
Българските средновековни монети
Language: Bulgarian with a summary in English

    The object of the study is description, dating, identification and classification of the Bulgarian Medieval coins from 13^th and 14^th century. Special attention is paid to the outer influences of Bulgarian coinage and their impact on the monetary and iconography of coin types. All the known coins of nine Bulgarian tsars and four independent rulers are arranged in chronological order. Eighty-two different coin types have been differentiated which belong to seven particular denominations — hyperpyron, stamenon, aspron, grosso, assarion, tournois and follarion.

Table of contents

Preface

Chapter I. Bulgarian Medieval numismatics from the National Revival Period to the present

1. Bulgarian Medieval numismatics during the National Revival Period

2. Bulgarian Medieval numismatics from the Liberation to the mid-70s of the 20th century

3. The modern stage in the development of Bulgarian Medieval numismatics

Chapter II. The coins of tsar John Asen II (1218—1241)

1. The gold hyperpyra ot tsar John Asen II

1.1. The “Christ Chalcitis — St. Demetrius crowns the tsar” type

2. The billon stamena of tsar John Asen II

2.1. The “Christ Pantokrator — St. Demetrius and the tsar hold scepter” type

Chapter III. The coins of tsar Mitso (?) Asen (1256—1363)

1. The billon stamena of tsar Mitso (?) Asen

1.1. The “St. Nicholas — the tsar in three-four height” type

Chapter IV. The coins of tsar Constantine Asen (1257—1277)

1. The billon stamena of tsar Constantine Asen

1.1. The “Christ Emmanuel — the tsar standing” type

1.2. The “Big cross — the tsar enthroned” type

1.3. The “Heavenly image — the tsar as a triumphing horseman” type

1.4. The “Christ Pantokrator — the tsar as a triumphing horseman” type

1.5. The “Virgin Hagiosoritissa — the tsar standing” type

1.6. The “Christ Pantokrator — the tsar standing” type

1.7. The “Six-winged seraph — half-length figure of the tsar” type

Chapter V. The stamena of despot Svetoslav (1261-1275)

1. The stamena of despot Svetoslav

1.1. The “Bust of St. Demetrius holding a cross — the despot standing” type

1.2. The “Bust of St. Demetrius (?) — the despot standing” type

1.3. The “Virgin orans (?) — the despot standing” type

1.4. The “Virgin orans (?) in full length — the despot standing” type

Chapter VI. The coins of tsar Theodore Svetoslav (1300—1321)

1. The silver aspra of tsar Theodore Svetoslav

1.1. The “Christ Pantokrator enthroned — the tsar standing holding cross” type

2. The stamena of tsar Theodore Svetoslav

2.1. The “Christ enthroned — the tsar with his co-ruler holding cross” type

2.2. The “Big cross — the tsar as a triumphing horseman” type

Chapter VII. The coins of tsar Michael Shishman Asen (1322—1330)

1. The silver aspra ot tsar Michael Shishman Asen

1.1. The “Christ Pantokartor seated on throne with back — the tsar as a triumphing horseman” type

Chapter VIII. The coins of tsar John Alexander (1331—1371)

1. The aspra of tsar John Alexander

1.1. The “Christ Pantokrator enthroned — the tsar standing” type

2. The aspra of tsar John Alexander with Michael Asen

2.1. The “Christ blessing with both hands — the tsar with his son holding standard” type — chronological classification and variants

2.1.1. Variants with a “dots” mark

2.1.2. Variants with letters С and Ж

2.1.3. The variant with three АЛЕ monograms

2.1.4. Variants with technical and technological errors

2.1.5. The variant with Walachian countermarks

2.1.6. The variant with a Dobroudjan (?) countermark

2.1.7. Imitative variants

2.1.8. Overstruck variants

2.1.9. Clipped variants

2.2. The “Christ blessing with both hands — the tsar with his son holding standard” type — an early “type immobilise”

3. The grossi of tsar Michael Asen

3.1. The “Christ enthroned — the ruler and a saint holding standard” type

4. The grossi of tsar Michael and tsarina Irene

4.1. The “Christ enthroned — the tsar and tsarina holding labarum” type

4.2. The “Christ enthroned — the tsar and tsarina holding cross” type

5. The grossi with the name of dux George

5.1. The “Christ enthroned — dux George and a saint holding labarum” type

6. The stamena ot tsar John Alexander

6.1. The “Big tsar’s monogram — the tsar as a triumphing horseman” type

6.2. The “Inscription АЛЕξ — the tsar holding scepter and globe with cross” type

6.3. The “Big monogram АЛЕ and ЦР — the tsar holding cross type”

7. The stamena ot tsar John Alexander with his son Michael Asen

7.1. The “Fortress gate with three towers — the tsar and his son holding labarum” type

7.2. The “Ruler’s mark — the tsar and his son holding cross” type

7.3.  The АЛЕ monogram — the tsar and his son holding labarum” type

8. The stamena of tsar John Alexander with tsarina Theodora

8.1. The “Big tsar’s monogram — the tsar and tsarina holding cross” type

9. The anonymous stamena of tsar John Alexander

9.1. The “Christ Pantokrator enthroned — Archangel Michael” type

10. The stamena with countermakrs of tsar John Alexander with his son Michael Asen

11. The stamena (assaria?) of tsar John Alexander

11.1. The “Big equal-armed cross with acanthus leaves — the tsar standing” type

12. The assaria of tsar John Alexander

12.1. The “Big equal-armed cross — the tsar standing” type

12.2. The “Bust of Christ Pantokartor — the tsar standing holding scepter with cross” type

12.3. The “Christ Pantokartor enthroned — half-length figure of the tsar” type

13. Anonymous assaria from the time of tsar John Alexander (1331—1371)

13.1. The “Big equal-armed cross — Archangel Michael” type

13.2. The “Big cross with acanthus leaves — two-headed eagle” type

13.3. The “Orthodox cross — ruler’s mark” type

14. The assaria of tsar Michael Asen (1335—1355)

14.1. The “Bust of Christ Pantokrator — the tsar standing holding scepter with cross” type

14.2. The “Ruler’s mark — the tsar as a triumphing horseman” type

Chapter IX. The grossi with countermarks of despot Dobrotitsa (1348—1355)

1. The “Square countermark“ type

2. The “Round countermark“ type

3. The “τ countermark“ type

4. The “Bird countermark“ type

5. The type of clipped silver coins

Chapter X. The coins of tsar John Shishman (1371—1393)

1. The aspra of tsar John Shishman

1.1. The “Christ standing, blessing with both hands — both rulers holding standard” type (“type immobilise”)

1.2. The “Bust of Christ Pantokrator — the tsar holding scepter with cross” type

1.3. The “Virgin Omen — the tsar with round crown” type

1.4. The “Virgin Omen — the tsar with stema” type

2. The tournois (?) of tsar John Shishman

3. Imitative stamena from the time of tsar John Shishman

4. Imitative assaria from the time of tsar John Shishman

Chapter XI. The coins of tsar John Stratsimir (1360—1396)

1. The aspra of tsar John Stratsimir

2. The assaria (follaria?) of tsar John Stratsimir

3. Anonymous stamena from the time of tsar John Stratsimir

4. Imitative assaria (follaria?) from the time of tsar John Stratsimir

Chapter XII. The coins of despot John Terter (1370—1390)

1. The silver dirchems of the Golden horde with a countermark of despot John Terter

2. The silver aspra of despot John Terter

3. The follaria of despot John Terter

The Bulgarian Medieval coins (summary)

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