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
La tradition mythique dans l’historiographie roumaine sur l’origine des armoiries du Pays Moldave
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Le problème de l’origine des armoiries du Pays Moldave a capté l’attention de l’historiographie roumaine, depuis l’époque des chroniqueurs jusqu’à nos jours. Au cours du XXe siècle, il a été abordé par de grands érudits comme Dimitrie Onciul, Gheorghe Brătianu, Mircea Eliade, Mihai Berza, Constantin Moisil, Dan Cernovodeanu, Jean-Nicolas Mănescu, Ştefan S. Gorovei et d’autres. Les sujets débattus sont restés les mêmes: l’origine territoriale ou dynastique de l’emblème de la tête d’aurochs, la relation entre les armoiries de l’État et les armoiries dynastiques, la signification des meubles héraldiques, l’évolution et la continuité des armes moldaves. L’auteur passe en revue les principaux travaux consacrés au sujet de l’origine mythique des armories du pays.
Silviu Andrieș-Tabac
Studii de muzeologie (I). Responsabil de ediție Elena Ploșnița, Chișinău: Bons Offices SRL, 2008, (Biblioteca „Tyragetia”, XVI), 196 p.
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Silviu Andrieș-Tabac
Territorial symbols registered in the General Armorial of the Republic of Moldova in 2022
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XVII [XXXII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Silviu Andrieș-Tabac
Emblems of justice in the contemporary Moldavian heraldry
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XI [XXVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Silviu Andrieș-Tabac
Les armoiries et les drapeaux des villes Anenii Noi, Cimișlia, Fălești, Leova, Nisporeni
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Silviu Andrieș-Tabac
Les symboles héraldiques de la commune de Lipnic, district d’Ocnița
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], 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
