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
Commercial navigation on the Dniester River (1812-1853)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
The article reveals one of the aspects of our researches regarding the external commerce of Bessarabia between 1812 and 1853. As a result of our endeavors of identification of transportation means of bessarabian commodities to Odessa, the most important seaport of the period, we found it necessary to accentuate our attention on commercial navigation on the Dniester River.
Analyzing archival documents and monographic literature we came to the conclusion that this problem shall be studied many-sided. To make the final conclusion, though, we must consider the aspects in totality. As a result we divided our paper in four parts: Means and conditions of Dniester navigation, Commercial transports on the course of Dniester, Commercial transports on the Dniester estuary, The role of Bessarabia in the commercial navigation of Dniester. Based on our researches, we consider that navigable potential of the Dniester River was utilized in the named period only partially. Most probably this was due to unconcern and mercenary of the Russian government, which ignored any initiatives, because their implementation didn’t promised quick dividends. Thus a vicious circle was formed. On the one hand the navigation on the Dniester River didn’t develop because of unsatisfactory hydrographical conditions, on the other hand the government refused to invest money for their amelioration as the Dniester navigation was too poor compared to other rivers of the Russian Empire.
Andrei Emilciuc
The role of land transport in Bessarabian commerce (1812-1853)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2007
Andrei Emilciuc
Establishment and functioning of the public granaries in Bessarabia (1834-1856)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIII [XXVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Andrei Emilciuc
The preoccupations of Bessarabia’s Zemstva regarding the commercial navigation on Dniester River (1869-1914)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Andrei Emilciuc
Representatives of Bessarabia at commodity exhibitions in the Russian Empire and in Western Europe (1829-1869)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIV [XXIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Andrei Emilciuc
Salt trade in Bessarabia in the context of the inclusion of the province in the economic system of the Russian Empire (1812-1850)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
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.
31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
