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
Some considerations related to the borders of the Principality of Moldavia in the second half of 14th century – Pocutsia and Colomeea
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
The question of territorial formation of the Moldavian feudal state continues to attract the attention of historians. One aspect of this problem is the inclusion of Pocutsia and the city Colomeea in the Principality of Moldavia. Colomeea was mentioned as a “Wallach” city in the known source entitled “The names of all Russian cities in the near neighborhood and far beyond”. Recent studies by Russian historians suggest that this source was compiled around 1375-1381. Corroborating this information with studies made by Polish historians, according to whom Pocutsia and some other territories were given to Moldavia by a Hungarian King, one can conclude that these territories became part of Moldavia around 1377-1387. Available sources so far do not allow determining more precisely the timeframe when these territories were included in the borders of Moldavia.
Ion Eremia
The ancient nation – origins, essence and its importance
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Ion Eremia
One Moscow historian’s view on the Relations of the Danube Principalities with the Ottoman Empire and with Russia
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Ion Eremia
Documente Bucovinene, vol. VII / Teodor Balan, Iași, TAIDA, 2005, XX p. + 318 p.; vol VIII, XVI p. +234 p. - vol. IX, Iași, TAIDA, 2006, XII p. + 164 p.
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Ion Eremia
Lia Bătrâna, Adrian Bătrâna, Biserica „Sfântul Nicolae" din Rădăuți. Cercetări arheologice și interpretări istorice asupra începuturilor Ţării Moldovei, Editor: Gheorghe Dumitroaia, Piatra Neamț: Editura Constantin Matasă, 2012, 518 p. ISBN 978-973-7
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Ion Eremia
Ioan Horga, Sorin Şipoș, De la „Mica" la „Marea Europă". Mărturii franceze de la sfârșitul secolului al XIX-lea despre frontiera răsăriteană a Europei. Studii și documente. Traducerea textelor Delia-Maria Radu. Oradea, Editura Universității din Oradea, 2006
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], 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.