#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

Planting of the Union Oak at the National History Museum of Moldova

November 10, 2022

On November 10, in the courtyard of the National Museum of History of Moldova, took place an event of special significance. The students and teachers of IPLT "Mircea Eliade", LCI "Prometeu-Prim", LTR "Aristotel", LT "George Meniuc" from the municipality of Chisinau planted the "Union Oak - symbol of the unity and longevity of the Romanian nation".

The action took place in the context of the educational project "Union, Romanians did it!", which runs from September to December. The purpose of the project is to promote national values, to develop and cultivate among young people the spirit of Romanian unity.

The participants of the scientific papers competition, held in the context of the 105th anniversary of the 1917 Moldavian Soldiers' Congress, were also present at the activity, who were offered first, second, third degree diplomas, as well as participants in the sport competition dedicated to the Great Union "Union Volleyball Cup offered by IPLT "M. Eliade".

The action of planting a Union Oak motivates the students to courageously show the feeling of national dignity and to be aware of the importance of the Great Union from 1918.

#Exhibit of the Month

Coins issued by Stephen the Great (1457-1504)

Planting of the Union Oak at the National History Museum of Moldova

November 10, 2022

#Exhibit of the Month