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
Icons of the Intercession in the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
In the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova there are six icons related to the famous iconographic type "Protection of the Holy Virgin". This type, that was designed to reflect the images of the feast of the Holy Virgin, has a complex composition, which harmoniously combines events, phenomena and characters belonging to different time periods. At the heart of it lies the vision of Andrew the Fool-for-Christ in the Blachernae church of Constantinople. The plot of the icons also recalls the miraculous phenomenon that became known as the Miracle of Blachernae. At the same time, this iconographic composition may be an illustration of the cycle of hymns, which conceptually transmits the idea of the intercession of the Blessed Virgin.
In the 10th century, in honor of the miraculous vision in Blachernae Eastern Church has established the celebration of the Intercession of the Theotokos on October 1; Russian Church celebrates this feast widely from the 12th century.
Today Orthodox Church unites under its auspices many holy temples dedicated to the feast of the Protection of Holy Virgin, which became a symbol of care and intercession.
Celebration of the Intercession on October 1 coincides with the feast of Romanos the Melodist (490-560), who is the author of the Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos.
The composition of icons of the Protection consists of the upper and lower parts. The upper part shows the Virgin standing on clouds with the veil symbolizing the protection in her hands, surrounded by saints, the holy prophets and the Myrrh-bearers. In the center of the lower part there is depicted Romanos the Melodist, on the right of him there are the emperors and men of Church; on the left St. Andrew the Fool-for-Christ is depicted, turning to his disciple Epiphanius and pointing up at the miracle that takes place in the temple. On some icons in the lower part there is depicted the dream of Romanos the Melodist, in which Our Lady gives him a scroll, blessing him to sing and write hymns. There are icons depicting only the Virgin.
Five of the six icons from the collection of NMHM are of average size, and one is larger, probably derived from a church dedicated to the feast. These icons are painted in oil and tempera on wood, composition of most of them corresponds exactly to this iconographic type. List of illustrations:
1. Icon of the Intercession. Galicia, 12th century. 2. Icon of the Intercession. Suzdal, 13th century, the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin. 3. Icon of the Intercession. Suzdal, 1360, the Convent of Intercession. 4. Icon of the Intercession. Novgorod, 1399, the Zverin Monastery. 5. Icon of the Intercession. Moldova, early 19th century. NMHM (FB-14017). 6. Icon of the Intercession. Moldova, 1871. NMHM (FB-23611). 7. Icon of the Intercession. Russia, 19th century. NMHM (FB-23384-4). 8. Icon of the Intercession. Bessarabia, early 20th century, St. Paraskeva Church in the village of Zgurița, Drochia District. NMHM (FB-22918-115). 9. Icon of the Intercession. Bessarabia, 1920s-1930s. NMHM (FA-10538-19). 10. Icon of the Intercession. Bessarabia, 1920s-1930s. NMHM (FB-22465).
Adelaida Chiroșca
Medieval coins discovered at Soroca fortress
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Adelaida Chiroșca
Lockets with the image of the Holy Virgin from the collection of the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2007
Adelaida Chiroșca
The monk-painter Irenaeus Protcenco and his famous icon "Our Lady of Sorrows"
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Adelaida Chiroșca
Eucharistic icons of Jesus Christ in the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. X [XXV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Adelaida Chiroșca
Two monetary treasures from the 16th and the 17th centuries from the collections of the NMAHM
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], 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.