#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

Round table "Archaeologist Emanuil RIKMAN - 100 years since his birth"

April 13, 2023

On April 13, the National Museum of History of Moldova hosted the round table "Archaeologist Emanuil RIKMAN - 100 years since his birth", organized by the Archeology Sector of the museum in partnership with the Faculty of History and Philosophy of the State University of Moldova and National Archaeological Agency.

The event was organized within the project "Museum heritage and historical memory: research, interpretation, presentation" (number 20.80009.0807.43), financed by the State Program (2020-2023) and aimed to bring the scientific work to the fore of archaeologist Emanuil Rikman and to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth.

The event was opened by dr. hab Eugen Sava, General Director NMHM. The round table was attended by numerous specialists in the field of archeology and ancient history, as well as enthusiasts of these subjects, who followed with interest the communications presented by the special guests.

Among them were dr. hab., prof. univ. Gheorghe Postică, who spoke about the scientific legacy of the scientist Emanuil A. Rikman, dr. Sergiu Matveev, who presented the archaeological sites of Emanuil Rikman in the North of the Republic of Moldova, the excavations at Sobari, dr. Vlad Vornic, who discussed the archaeological sites of Emanuil Rikman in the central and southern areas of the Republic of Moldova, the excavations at Budești and Costești, as well as dr. assoc. prof. Ion Tentiuc, who presented the archaeological collections of Emanuil Rikman from the funds of the National Museum of History of Moldova.

The round table ended with discussions and evocations about Emanuil Rikman and with the inauguration in the upstairs hall of an exhibition dedicated to the archaeologist Emanuil Rikman, which will be open for visits from April 13 to May 24, 2023, in the upper hall of the National Museum of History of Moldova, str. 31 August 1989, 121A.

This scientific event once again demonstrated the importance of research, interpretation and presentation of cultural and historical heritage and represented an excellent opportunity to reflect on Emanuil Rikman's contribution to the development of archeology and ancient history in the Republic of Moldova.

#Exhibit of the Month

Coins issued by Stephen the Great (1457-1504)

Round table "Archaeologist Emanuil RIKMAN - 100 years since his birth"

April 13, 2023

#Exhibit of the Month