#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

Events Archive

International Museum Day
"Museums for Education and Research"

May 18, 2024

The National Museum of History of Moldova had the honor of hosting one of the most important events in the life of the world museum community - International Museum Day. This year's event, held under the banner "Museums for Education and Research", took place on Saturday, May 18, 2024, between 10:00 and 18:00.

Throughout the day, visitors had the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities and surprises specially prepared for this occasion. The program included:

Within the museum:

- 10:00-18:00 - Free Visit to the museum's permanent and temporary exhibitions.

- 11:00-12:00 - Living Exhibit - a museum project using artificial intelligence to detect and describe exhibits, presented by students from IPLT "Gheorghe Asachi", winners of the "Engineering Excellence" Award at the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Moldova 2024.
Location: nr. 9 (Bronze), floor

- 12:00-13:00 - Tactile Music - an installation generating contemporary music sounds through tactile touch, presented by winners of the "Engineering Excellence" Award at the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Moldova 2024, students from IPLT Da Vinci, Chisinau.
Location: nr. 8 (Medieval), floor

- 13:00-14:00 - Guided Robot - a museum hall model where a guide robot offers both remote and disability-friendly tours, presented by students from IPLT "Gaudeamus" Chisinau, winners of the "Innovation Project" Award at the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Moldova 2024.
Location: nr. 6 (Red), floor

- 15:00-16:00 - Museum in Reflected Reality - holograms, soap bubbles, luminescent algae, programmable LEDs, presented by students from IPLT "Mihai Stratulat" s. Boscana, Criuleni, winners of the "Perseverance" Award at the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Moldova 2024.
Location: Cinemateca "Clio", floor
- 15:30-16:00 - Opening of Temporary Exhibition "Dialogue in Space and Time. Exhibition of Chinese Costume Culture" organized by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Chisinau.
Location: nr. 1 (Parter), floor

- 16:00-17:00 - Virtual Reality Workshop organized by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Chisinau:
- Interactive activities: Chinese knot, cutting Chinese paper, calligraphy;
- Demonstrations: guzheng (Chinese musical instrument), Kung Fu (Chinese martial art).

- 17:00-18:00 - Musical Concert supported by the brass band of the "Alexei Stârcea" School of Arts, artistic leader and conductor: Mihail Lisii

In the courtyard of the museum:

13:00-15:00 - "Technological evolution in space and time. Prehistory" - interactive activities and Cucutenian drawings.
13:00-18:00 - "Technological evolution in space and time. Medieval era" - activities supported by the Association of Historical Reconstruction clubs from the Republic of Moldova "Bastion".
13:00-13:30 - Opening of the exhibition "A history of the oldest inhabited city in Romania - Constanța", organized by the Museum of National History and Archeology Constanța.
16:00-17:00 - Workshop organized by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, including interactive activities and cultural demonstrations.
17:00-18:00 - Music recital performed by the marching band of the "Alexei Stârcea" School of Arts.

International Museum Day, celebrated annually on 18 May, serves as a global platform for promoting the role of museums in cultural exchange and development. This year's edition emphasized the importance of education and research within museums, inviting visitors to rediscover the innovative and traditional role of these institutions.
Thanks to all partners and participants who contributed to the success of this event. We look forward to seeing you at the National Museum of History of Moldova to continue exploring and learning together!

Event partners: Aridon Group, First Lego League Moldova, Constanța National History and Archeology Museum, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Moldova, "Alexei Stârcea" School of Arts, "Bastion" Association of Historical Reconstruction Clubs from the Republic of Moldova.

Media partners: Diez, Locals, TVR Moldova, Călătorii cu Gust, Aquarelle Magazine, Aquarelle FM, TV Moldova1
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at our next events!