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
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Monetary discoveries found on Republic of Moldova’s territory, recorded during year 2009 are presented. The file of roman monetary discoveries is supplemented by eight issues. Two golden coins are recorded among these: one issued by emperor Diocletianus at Antiochia in AD 286 and another of Maximian Hercule (286-305) issued at Cizic, dated AD 288.
Two treasures were found among the Medieval discoveries. The first was found near the localities Novaci and Nișcani, Călărași district, in autumn 2009. It is composed of Ottoman issues from Bayezid the 2nd (58 ex.), a Hungarian denar from Mathias Corvinus (1458-1490) and two Moldavian gros issued by Ştefan cel Mare (Stephen the Great). The treasure from Parcani, Soroca district, although found in 1989, is still original and is stored in the collections of the Museum of History and Ethnography at Soroca. The deposit is composed of 16th century to 1599 European coins. A new lot of coins originating from Costești, Ialoveni district, was again discovered, including 22 dirhems issued by the Golden Horde, 264 Tatar issues of copper, from which 44 of Costești-Gârla type, a gros of Prague and a Bulgarian issue from Ioan Şișman.
The discoveries from the surroundings of Cosăuți village, Soroca district, enrich the numismatic repertoire of the Republic of Moldova with new issues, some of which are attested for the first time.
Ana Boldureanu
Monetary finds chronicle (I)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică Chișinău, 2007
Ana Boldureanu
Chronicle of coin finds (XV)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XV [XXX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică, Chişinău, 2021
Sergiu Matveev, Ana Boldureanu
A bronze Macedonian coin from the village of Tudora (Ştefan Vodă District)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XII [XXVII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Ana Boldureanu
The chronicle of monetary discoveries (V)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Ana Boldureanu
Numismatic chronicle (II)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
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 National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.