#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

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Events Archive

Award of the European Prize for Cultural Heritage to the Republic of Moldova

September 9, 2015

On September 9th, 2015 at the National Museum of History of Moldova took place the Local Ceremony for the award of the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage - EUROPA NOSTRA Award 2015. The event was organized by the Agency for Inspection and Restoration of Monuments, in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union in Republic Moldova.

The European Union Award for Cultural Heritage - Europa Nostra - was launched in 2002 by the European Commission in partnership with the European Federation of NGOs "Europa Nostra" working in the field of heritage. The award celebrates and promotes best practices for the conservation, management, research, education and communication on heritage. In this way, it brings cultural heritage closer to European citizens and contributes to public recognition of the cultural heritage as a strategic resource of European society and economy.

„Europa Nostra 2015" Prize was awarded to the Agency for Inspection and Restoration of the Monuments for the category Education, training and sensibilisation for the project "Saving the testimonies of the past for building the future". The project of the agency was launched at the beginning of 2013 and aimed at increasing awareness of citizens about the dangers faced by monuments, emphasizing on their high level of degradation, the need for preservation, protection and restoration of cultural heritage.

The event was attended by the Minister of Culture Monica Babuc, by the head of EU Delegation in the Republic of Moldova Pirkka Tapiola, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Chișinău, men of culture.
The Award and Europa Nostra Diploma were handed to Ion Ştefăniță, director of the Agency for Inspection and Restoration of Monuments by Maria Berza, representative of Europa Nostra Organization.

The high appreciation of the Agency for Inspection and Restoration of Monuments team by the European Union is encouraging of their efforts in safeguarding the national heritage which is part of European identity.

Part of the event was the presentation for the first time in the Republic of Moldova of a video-mapping demonstration on the facade of the museum.

Award of the European Prize for Cultural Heritage to the Republic of Moldova

#Exhibit of the Month

Coins issued by Stephen the Great (1457-1504)

Award of the European Prize for Cultural Heritage to the Republic of Moldova

September 9, 2015

#Exhibit of the Month