#Exhibit of the Month

The great ruler Stephen the Great, outstanding army commander and diplomat, was also concerned during his life with the economic prosperity of the country, supporting the development of crafts, trade and fairs. During his reign, groși and half groși minted in the dinar system were issued, a monetary system introduced in Moldova during the last reign of Petru Aron (1455-1457).

The coins were minted from silver of superior title, those that reflect stability in the economic life of the country at that time. Their masterful execution at the Suceava mint is among the beautiful artistic achievements during the reign of Stephen the Great.

During his reign, two types of issues were minted, for the two denominations: groși and half groși.

Type I issues have a split shield on the obverse; in the first quarter appears a rose surmounted by a cross and three fascias, in the second quarter. For the epigraph issues (groși), the image is accompanied by the circular legend with the name of the issuer: + STEFANVS VOIEVODA. On the other side appears the bour's head with a star between the horns accompanied by the heraldic furniture - the rose and the contoured crescent, placed to the right and left of the bour's head; circular legend: MOLDAVIE COIN.

On type II coins in the shield on the obverse appears a patriarchal cross (double) and the legend STEFANVSVOIEVOD or abbreviated STEFANVSVOIE. On the reverse, as in type I, the bour's head with heraldic attributes is preserved: rose right/crescent left and crescent right/rose left. A star or rose appears between the ox's horns. The legend accompanying the face with the bour head is MONETAMOLDAVI or abbreviated MONETAMOLDA.

The dating of Stephen the Great's coins is still under discussion. According to one opinion, type I issues were minted between 1457-1476, and type II between 1480/1481-1505 (Octavian Iliescu), and another 1465/1467-1475/1476 for type I and 1476/1479-1497 for type II (Ernest Oberländer-Târnoveanu).

The coins in this showcase were discovered during the archaeological excavations at Orheiul Vechi (Trebujeni, Orhei district) in the 6th and 7th decades of the 20th century:

1. Type I money issues, groși, silver
2. Type II money issues, groși, silver
3. Type II coin issue, half groși, silver

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

“25 years since the establishment of the first central structures of the Catholic Church in the Republic of Moldova”

23 October - 18 November 2018

At the National Museum of History of Moldova was opened the exhibition "25 years since the establishment of the first central structures of the Catholic Church in the Republic of Moldova" which is organized in collaboration with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Chișinău. The exhibition includes about 70 photographs, papal bulls, books, liturgical items and objects that mark the birth and evolution of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Chișinău. Each photo speaks about a moment in the history of the Catholic Church, representing people, events and structures created in the 25 years. Besides photos, are displayed religious objects, part of which come from the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova. The purpose of the exhibition, opened at the end of the Anniversary Year for the Diocese of Chișinău is to leave a visible trace of the Catholic presence, especially for those who do not yet have exact knowledge of what the Catholic Church accomplished in the Republic of Moldova.

The opening event of the anniversary exhibition, which enjoyed a large presence, was made with the participation of Mons. Miguel Maury Buendia, Apostolic Nuncio for Romania and the Republic of Moldova; Archbishop Anton Coşa, Roman Catholic Bishop of Chișinău; Valeriu Ghileţchi, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova; representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Chișinău.

The historical study "The Catholic Church in Bessarabia in the Interwar Period", made by Pr. Petru Ciobanu, was presented during the event. The volume was presented by Ion Gumenâi, Ph.D., associate professor in history, who highlighted the scientific importance of the work which includes not only the interwar period but also treats the beginnings of Christianity north of the Danube and the space between the Prut and Dniester Rivers. Prof. Gumenâi also mentioned that, by addressing the interwar period, the work contributes, together with other studies, to the formation of a complete picture of the history of the Catholic community in this space.