Silver Coin of Tsar Todor Svetoslav of Second Bulgarian Empire Released by National Bank, Archaeology Museum in Replica Collection
The replica of the silver coin minted by Tsar Todor Svetoslav Terter in the first couple of decades of the 14th century, which set a silver standard for coin minting in the Second Blgarian Empire. Photo: National Institute and Museum of Archaeology
A replica of a silver coin minted by Tsar Todor (Teodor) Svetoslav Terter of the Second Bulgarian Empire (r. 1301 – 1322) has become the third coin to be released by the Mint of the Bulgarian National Bank and the National Institute and Museum of Archaeology in a joint project for a modern-day replica collection of Bulgarian coins from the Middle Ages.
The Bulgarian National Bank and the National Institute and Museum of Archaeology in Sofia already announced the release of the gold perpera (a version of the Byzantine gold coin “hyperpyron”) of Tsar Ivan Asen II and a copper cup-shaped coin (scyphate) also of Tsar Ivan Asen II as the first coins in the replica collection entitled “Medieval Bulgarian Coins”.
The project includes the reproduction of a total of seven coins from the start of coin minting in medieval Bulgaria which began under Tsar Ivan Asen II (r. 1218 – 1241).
In its announcement on the release of the replica coin of Tsar Todor Svetoslav Terter, the National Institute and Museum of Archaeology emphasizes the early 14th century ruler’s role in setting the silver standard for coin minting in the Second Bulgarian Empire.
The replica of the silver coin minted by Tsar Todor Svetoslav Terter in the frist couple of decades of the 14th century, which set a silver standard for coin minting in the Second Blgarian Empire.Photo: National Institute and Museum of Archaeology
“The continuous rule of Tsar Todor Svetoslav Terter (1301 – 1322) marks a new turning point in the development of medieval Bulgarian coin minting. It was during this ruler’s reign that set the foundation of the intensive minting of the first Bulgarian silver coins,” the Museum states.
It points out that Tsar Todor Svetoslav Terter’s silver coins were also the first Bulgarian medieval coins “that became known to the scientific community in the 19th century.”
“Unlike the coin issues of the earlier Bulgarian Tsars, whose coins have a cup-shaped (scyphate) core, Tsar Teodor Svetoslav’s silver coins have a flat core. They permanently introduced the main silver standard in coin minting, a trend continued by almost all Bulgarian rulers thereafter,” the Museum states.
“Only a single type of silver coins was minted under Tsar Teodor Svetoslav’s name. Their images are characterized by the linear and schematic style which is typical of medieval art,” it adds.
Many of the Tsars of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185 – 1396/1422) minted coins.
Besides the silver coin of Tsar Todor Svetoslav mentioned above, the six other coins to be reproduced in the “Medieval Bulgarian Coins” replica collection include:
Two coins of Tsar Ivan Asen II, a gold perpera (hyperpyron) and a copper scyphate (cup-shaped coin);
Two silver coins of Tsar Ivan Alexander (r. 1331 – 1371) – one of which was declared the Museum’s first exhibit of the month back in August 2020;
A silver coin of Tsar Mihail III Shishman (r. 1322 – 1330);
A silver coin minted by Tsar Ivan Sratsimir (r. 1371 – 1396) of the Vidin Tsardom, a rump state of the Second Bulgarian Empire.
The Second Bulgarian Empire was formed in 1185 after the successful rebellion against Byzantium of two Bulgarian boyars, brothers Asen and Petar (later Tsar Asen I (r. 1187-1196) and Tsar Petar IV (r. 1185-1197)), the so called Asen and Petar’s Uprising). Both Asen and Petar, as well as their third brother, Tsar Kaloyan (1197-1207) were murdered.
Territory of the Second Bulgarian Empire under Tsar Todor Svetoslav Terter who managed to regain some of the lands lost in previous decades. Map; Wikipedia
Tsar Todor (Teodor) Svetoslav Terter’s 20-year-long rule in the early 14th century is known as a period of stabilization of the Second Bulgarian Empire, after a period of fragility and domestic strife in the second half of the 13th century following the death of Tsar Ivan Asen II, including major interventions by the Golden Horde, a successor state of Genghis Khan’s Mongol Empire, not to mention participation in inter-state wars. Todor Svetoslav Terter delivered one important military victory, against Byzantine Emperor Michael IX Palaeologus (r. 1294 – 1320), in the Battle of Skafida near Poros (Burgos), today’s Burgas on the Black Sea in Southeast Bulgaria.
The coins from the Medieval Bulgarian Coins replica collection can be purchased from the Mint of the Bulgarian National Bank through its website mint.bg or by phone order at +359 2 807 18 67.
Also check out these stories about the Medieval Bulgarian Coins collection:
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Ivan Dikov, the founder of ArchaeologyinBulgaria.com, is the author of the book Plunder Paradise: How Brutal Treasure Hunters Are Obliterating World History and Archaeology in Post-Communist Bulgaria, among other books.
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