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. I [XVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2007
Starting with 1470 Ştefan cel Mare builds a new strategy in the security politics of the eastern border of Ţara Moldovei. In the context of this strategy a new place was reserved to the city-fortress Orhei which became the central element in the protection of these borders.
During this period Ştefan cel Mare established the administration of Orhei, which was governed in the next three decades by prominent persons of the time, members of Sfatul Domnesc (Prince’s Council): Radu Gangur, Galeș, Vlaicu with his son Duma, Grozea Micotici etc. Due to their high status they contributed to the growing role that the fortress from Răut had to play in the general defense policy of Ţara Moldovei.
Orhei was a natural fortress endowed with supplementary fortifications built at different stages of its evolution, including in the period of Ştefan cel Mare’s rule, when with the help of the governors were built new fortification or repaired the old ones. Three fortifications date from this period: two big earthen and wooden wallums blocking the entrance in the settlement from the west and a stone citadel situated in the central part of Orhei city.
An argument supporting the importance of Orhei fortress in the politics of the sovereign Ştefan cel Mare is the endowment of the fortress with fire artillery, fact which was documented archaeologically by the discovery of two splendid bronze canons.
A new stage begins in the history of the fortress from Răut after the year 1494, when the governors of Orhei ceased to be members of Sfatul Domnesc, fact that lead to its gradual degradation and abandonment by the middle of the 16th century.
Gheorghe Postică, Iulia Postică
Considerations regarding the museum policies within the complex Orheiul Vechi and future perspectives
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Gheorghe Postică
Elena Ploșnița, Concepte muzeografice cu profil de istorie: retrospectivă și perspectivă. Biblioteca "Tyragetia", Chișinău, 2008, 248p.
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], 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
