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
Fair trade in the towns Ismail, Reni and Chilia in the fi rst half of the 19th century
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
In the given study one has brought into discussion the problem of fair trade evolution only in the south of Basarabia, in the town-ports Ismail, Reni and Chilia, in the first half of the 19th century. The fairs were organised twice a year – in autumn and spring, before the sowing and after the harvesting. These fairs were known as being manufactured, especially those from Ismail, which respectively had also a greater commercial circuit, a situation favoured by the territorial-administrative statute of the specific town, as well as river – ways much easier of access and more practical towards the port of Ismail. Along with the goods of import, of which the main role was played by those made of flax, hemp, wool, cotton and silk, within the fairs were also sold local goods, most of them agro-food ones - cereal, wine, honey, salt etc. The fairs from the towns Reni and Chilia attracted not only local tradesmen, but also foreign ones, from the Russian internal provinces and abroad.
The fair trade in the south of Basarabia, in the period under discussion, was influenced by the harvests volume, the growth in number of the markets and shops, the Russian commercial and custom-house policy, as well as the plague in year 1848 and in year 1855 and the war in Crimeea.
Maria Maftei
A survey of cereal trade in Bessarabia through the ports of Reni and Ismail in 1812-1856
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2007
Maria Maftei
The economic situation in Cahul county during 30ies - 50ies of the 19th century
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], 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.