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By Radmilo Bozinovic -
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From the advent of coinage more than 2,600 years ago, numismatics - the study
of metal currency - has been a fascinating and rewarding endeavor. By studying
the images represented, language of inscriptions, artistic expression, metal
composition and more, we can often fine valuable evidence not only for a
particular monetary economy, but also about distant times and societies, and
the dynamics of their development. We hope that the material presented will
illustrate the power of numismatic research, but even more so the rich
historical experience of the times it covers.
Medieval Serbian Coinage
Despite serious research that has been continuously performed on the subject
since mid-19th century, Serbian medieval numismatics remains both rather
obscure and inconclusive on many issues. There is no concensus, say, on the
attributions (to rulers), mint dates or interpretations of various symbols
("mint-marks") for a great many of the coin types, which adds a dose of
mystery to the subject.
Although it existed for only about 200 years, medieval Serbian coinage shows
a remarkable variety, with an estimated 600 types and variants - many of them
borrowing from designs existing in other coinages, but also including some
original ones. While many millions were minted overall, an estimated
50-60 thousand are in existence today (mostly in museums and a few bigger
private collections), a large part of them discovered during the last 150
years.
It is believed that the first Serbian (Rascian) coins were issues of
St. Sava's elder nephew, king Stefan Radoslav (1227-1234), struck at the
capital town of Ras. Few remain today of these coins that closely modeled
some earlier Byzantine types (including Greek inscriptions), perhaps
reflecting Radoslav's Greek (Dukas family) heritage and aspirations, stemming
from his mother's side. However, after his deposition and the destruction
of Ras (1233), coins were not struck for several decades.
Regular issuance of Serbian coins is considered to have started with king
Stefan Uros I (1243-1276), probably late in his reign. The silver
dinars closely modeled the Venetian grosso - although with the
appropriate title and ruler - which eventually led to the monetary
embargo imposed by Venice on Serbian coins in 1282. It is not clear today
whether this was in response to apparent debasement (lowered silver content)
of these coins or for more sinister reasons, but the whole event was
noted in Dante's Divine Comedy (with a probable reference to
King Milutin):
"And Portugal should be held in blame,
with Norway and the Rascian
who laid his eyes on Venetian coins
and forged his own ill-fame."
(Dante Alighieri, Paradise, Canto XIX, Eagle speaking).
The earliest mints in Serbia were around the newly discovered silver mines -
the first and largest being Brskovo (Montenegro, since ca. 1270),
then Rudnik (Sumadija, since the 1290's), Novo Brdo (Metohija, since 1326),
and later several others (Srebrenica, Trepca, Prizren, Ohrid, Plana,
Skoplje, Rudiste, etc.).
Republic of Venice, Doge Jacopo Tiepolo (1229-1249)
Matapano (Grosso). Obv.: Doge (governor) receiving
banner from St. Mark; Legend: IA TEUPL DUX S.M. VENETI; Rev.: Christ
enthroned, holding Book of Gospels, legend: IC - XC
NUMISMATIC NOTES: Introduced around 1202 (to fund preparations for the grand
and infamous Fourth Crusade that eventually sacked Constantinople) by the
mighty doge Enrico Dandolo and backed by the Republic's thriving economic
power, this coin remained for well over a century the deutschmark
of Southeastern European economy. Although almost all of its design elements
are of Byzantine origin - including the iconic image of a facing enthroned
Christ with the Greek inscription "IC XC" (for Jesus Christ) on its reverse
- their particular combination in this silver coin of stable and strictly
controlled weight and purity lasted for over 150 years (with variations in
doge only) and became associated strictly with Venice. As such, through
imitations and forgeries, it influenced many Eastern Mediterranean coinages,
including the first systematic series of Serbian medieval coins.
King Stefan Uros I Nemanjic (1243-1276)
"Banner" dinar. Obv.: Bareheaded King receiving banner from
St. Stephen with his right hand, holding scrolls with his left hand, legend:
UROSIUS REX S STEFAN ("Uros King, St. Stephen"); Rev.: Christ enthroned, holding Book of Gospels, legend: IC - XC ("Jesus Christ")
HISTORICAL NOTES: The long reign of St. Sava's youngest nephew strenghtened
the state from the inside. Mine exploitation, money minting, and commerce
bolstered the country's economic base. Religious tolerance ensured firm
loyalty of Roman Catholic subjects in the coastal areas. The monastery Sopocani
with its frescoes remains one of the gems of medieval European art.
NUMISMATIC NOTES: Early Serbian coinage (to appr. mid-14th c.) features
Latin inscriptions, as opposed to the later Cyrillic Serbian ones. One
reason is that it was used more for foreign than domestic trade - usually
exported by merchants from Dubrovnik to Venice and the West.
"Banner" dinar. Obv.: King receiving banner from St. Stephen,
legend: STEFAN REX S STEFAN; Rev.: Christ enthroned, holding Book of
Gospels, IC - XC
HISTORICAL NOTES: After the 1282 abdication in favor of his younger brother
Milutin, Dragutin remained in charge of Northern Serbia (including Belgrade),
and continued to issue money until his death in 1316. The fact that only some
of it continued to bear the royal title could be related to the changing
relationship between the two brothers.
NUMISMATIC NOTES: The patron saint of the Nemanjic crown, St. Stephen,
replaces the Venetian St. Mark on the Serbian dinars.
"Banner" dinar. Obv.: King receiving banner from St. Stephen,
legend: UROSIUS REX S STEFAN; Rev.: Christ enthroned
"Cross" dinar. Obv.: King receiving tall cross from St.Stephen,
legend: UROSIUS REX S STEFAN; Rev.: Christ enthroned
"Lilly and cross" dinar. Obv.: Crowned King enthroned, holding
sceptre with lilly in one hand, and globe with cross in the other,
legend: UROSIUS REX; Rev.: Christ enthroned
HISTORICAL NOTES: The greatest Serbian statesman between St.Sava and Czar
Dusan, Milutin elevated Serbia to a major Balkan power. Many factors
contributed to this, including wise exploitation of silver mines (as
witnessed by vastly increased coin output). Encouraged arts and letters;
built and decorated dozens of churches and monasteries, not only in Serbia
(e.g. the famous Gracanica), but also in Jerusalem, Constantinople and
Mt. Athos.
NUMISMATIC NOTES: One of the open issues is that of attributing early
dinars.The fact that money was not dated at this time is exacerbated by
proliferation of the royal names Stefan and Uros, and the attributions
given here are only probable. The "Lilly and cross" dinar is a radical
departure from the earlier Venetian model, and is generally considered
to be of the finest style for its time.
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Dinar. Obv.: Vladislav standing, Cyrillic legend: VLADISLAV RAB
HOU; Rev.: Christ enthroned
HISTORICAL NOTES: Dragutin's son Vladislav ruled his father's realm
(roughly, today's Srem, Macva and Sumadija) before a defeat at the hands
of Stefan Decanski ended his ambitions in the ongoing dynastic struggle
NUMISMATIC NOTES: The legend used here ("Vladislav, servant of Christ")
avoids use of the royal title, indicating some political compromise on
Vladislav's part, despite his claims to the throne.
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"Cross" dinar. Obv.: Crowned king receiving partiarchal cross
from St. Stephen, legend: STEFAN REX S STEFAN; Rev.: Christ enthroned
"Sword" dinar. Obv.: Crowned king seated, holding sword in left,
and sceptre with cross in right hand, Cyrillic legend: KRA STEFAN OUROS
TRETI("King Stefan Uros the Third"); Rev.: Christ enthroned, IC - XC,
sigla:B-P
HISTORICAL NOTES: A tragic figure that suffered both from his father and
later his son, Stefan nevertheless continued the state's progress. His
victory at Velbuzd (1330) effectively reduced the Second Bulgarian Empire
to a subordinate state of Serbia; his monastery, Visoki Decani, remains
one of the finest medieval Serbian monuments.
NUMISMATIC NOTES: The "sword" dinar is a cornerstone in deciphering some of
the attribution mysteries, since it is a rare issue that uniquely identifies
a Nemanjic dynast with his full title. The exact meaning of symbols flanking
Christ's throne, known as "sigla", is still a mystery - they could be related
to mints, mint officials, batches of silver, or engravers.
"Helmet dinar". Obv.: Ornamented helmet ("cekrkli celenka"),
legend: MONITA REX STEFA (for "Money of King Stefan"); Rev.:
Christ enthroned
"Coronation" dinar. Obv.: Standing Emperor with sceptre,
crowned by two angels, Cyrillic legend: SF ZR ("Stefan Czar");
Rev.: Christ enthroned, IC - XC
"Horseman" dinar. Obv.: Emperor riding horse, holding scepter with
cross; Rev.: Bust of Christ blessing, IC - XC, sigla: N-O
"5-line" dinar. Obv.: Cyrillic legend: STEFAN V HA BA BLAGOVERNII
ZR ("Stefan, in Christ our God pious Emperor"); Rev.: Christ
"Two figures" dinar. Obv.: Dusan and Jelena standing,
Cyrillic legend: SF ZR (for "Stefan Czar"); Rev.: Christ
Copper follaro of Kotor. Obv.: St. Triphon, city patron saint;
Rev.: City walls, legend: S TRIFON CATARI
HISTORICAL NOTES: The high point of medieval Serbia, elevating the state into
a centralized Empire, and the church into a Patriarchy. Territorial
expansion was followed by a unified legal system, defined by the well-known
Zakonik, or Legal Code (1349). However, Dusan's ambitious achievements
started to unravel after his premature death.
NUMISMATIC NOTES: Medieval coins were hammered between two molds, or dies,
one each for obverse and reverse. Dies for most Serbian coin types were
engraved ("cut") by a limited number of die-cutters. About 10 such masters
have been identified for Dusan's coinage.
Incidentally, one die would last roughly
10,000 strikes, and would then have to be redone. Often they would wear
unevenly and get replaced at different times, resulting in pairs of coins
with only one side from a common die, or even coins with sides from different
engravers - all of which are powerful numismatic tools.
Since ancient times and until the advent of mass communication,
coinage by its very nature served as a powerful means for its issuers -
particularly central governments - to disseminate messages, news and
propaganda. Accordingly, the important step of declaring an Empire was
accompanied here by new monetary issues, including the original "coronation"
design, which simultaneously informed about its occurence, as well as
its divine (and thus indisputable) nature.
Dinar. Obv.: Imperial couple standing, Cyrillic legend:
OUROS ZR ("Uros Czar");Rev.: Christ standing
HISTORICAL NOTES: Last ruler of the Nemanjic dynasty, Uros has had a mixed
treatment in Serbian tradition. Although considered a feeble ruler unable
to hold together the fruit of his father's statesmanship
(thus "Uros the Weak"), he has also been seen as a martyr and victim of
plots by selfish nobility at the eve of the Turkish onslaught.
Dinar. Obv.: Emperor Uros enthroned, with sceptre, Cyrillic
legend: "US ZR ("Uros Czar"); Rev.: Ornamented helmet with nobleman's
head on top, legend: "MONITA DESPOTI IOA".
HISTORICAL NOTES: Throughout Emperor Dusan's rise, Jovan Oliver was one of
his right-hand men, whom he elevated upon his imperial coronation to the
second-ranking office of despot. Apart from his military experience,
documents show his important diplomatic skills. With his Greek wife and
knowledge of the Greek language, he exemplified a newer wave in the
medieval Serbian state, where the Byzantine court practices and culture
in general were being more widely felt.
NUMISMATIC NOTES: Although this issue shows Emperor Uros as the suzerain,
similar coins exist with his father Dusan's name. This scarce issue
testifies that even during the times of a strong, centralized empire,
there was apparently a need for certain regional governors to issue money
in their own name (while clearly acknowledging the central
state authority) - probably reflecting some peculiar requirements of
local circulation.
Dinar Obv.: 5-line Cyrillic legend: V HA BA BLAGOVERNII
KRA VLKAS ("In Christ our God pious King Vukasin"); Rev.: Christ
enthroned
HISTORICAL NOTES: Father of epic folk hero Kraljevic Marko, King Vukasin,
just like his son, remains historically rather obscure. Although his
murderous plotting against the Emperor Uros is probably an invention of
17th c. chroniclers, he contributed to the state's disintegration, and epic
tradition didn't treat him kindly.
To his credit, together with his brother Despot Ugljesa he managed
to organize a respectable expedition to sack Adrianople and expell
Turks from the Balkans once and for all; but their military prowess
proved no match for that of their foes, and their death and debacle
in the infamous Battle of Marica (southern Thrace) in 1371 opened
the door for broader Ottoman conquests in Europe.
NUMISMATIC NOTES: The fact that a junior ruler (king) minted his own money
alongside a living emperor attests to the weakening of central rule
(although the Byzantine state had survived many such situations). This
ushered the proliferation of independent coinages of many petty rulers - a
practice to last over three decades, until Serbia got reconstituted as a
united Despotate in the early 15th c. under Stefan Lazarevic.
Dinar Obv.: 5-line Cyrillic legend: V HA BA BLAGOVERNII
KRAL MARKO ("In Christ our God pious King Marko"); Rev.: Christ
standing
HISTORICAL NOTES: The legend of Kraljevic (regal prince) Marko - a witty
popular hero, with a keen sense of chivalry and honor, and often
superhuman traits, who protects the simple folk from Turkish invaders
and other calamities - is among the most popular among the Balkan
Christians. It goes well beyond its anchor in Serbian epic poetry, as
his deeds are celebrated also in Bulgarian, Croatian, and even Albanian
tradition. Historical data on Marko (who ruled in Macedonia as a
Turkish vassal after his father's death) is rather scarce, and none of it
can clearly justify the myth that has
surrounded him. Perhaps it was simply his ability to combine personal
honor and courage with an autonomous rule and services to Turkish
masters in a way that shielded his subjects from the increased
lawlessness of his time and realm. Yet, the moral quandary created by
this position took its toll, as contemporary records show him wishing
for his own death on the eve of his final battle as a vassal. Poetry
expressed this as Marko's lament to his faithfull falcon, following a
hunting incident with his Turkish masters:
"What burden we bear, good falcon o' mine -
Hunting with Turks, yet none of our kind,
Hunting with them, in evil we share!"
NUMISMATIC NOTES: Marko's money is rare, but constitutes important
evidence about a major ruler that has left us surpisingly few real artifacts
(e.g., a couple of churches he endowed with some preserved quality frescoes,
the walls of his ancient citadel). In particular, valuable implications
were made from the titles he used on the coins, and their estimated
circulation, mint location and time (as determined by the group finds,
or hoards, that they were part of).
Dinar. Obv.: Lazar crowned and enthroned, holding sceptre
with cross, legend: KNEZ LAZR ("Prince Lazar"); Rev.: Christ
enthroned
Dinar. Obv.: Lazar standing, holding sceptre with cross,
Cyrillic legend: KNEZ LAZR ("Prince Lazar"); Rev.: Christ enthroned
Dinar of Novo Brdo. Obv.: Lazar standing, holding sceptre
with cross, legend: CONTE LASARO ("Prince Lazar"); Rev.: Christ
standing, legend: NOVOMONTE ARGEN ("silver of Novo Brdo")
HISTORICAL NOTES: The key figure of Serbian epic tradition, whose choice
of "kingdom of Heaven" over "kingdom on Earth" postulates the basic moral
tennet that permeated the Serbian national ethic for centuries. A cohesive
force in a disintegrating empire, he promoted political unity through both
diplomatic and military means, and gained ecclesiastic support by helping
the reconciliation of Greek and Serbian churches in 1375.
NUMISMATIC NOTES: Historical information can be deduced through numismatic
evidence. In the wake of Ottoman advances and dynastic struggles, Lazar
appears to have favored unity, first by denying virtually all his vassals
minting authority, and second by reducing contention - as evidenced by the
gradual elimination of imperial insignia (e.g. closed imperial crown and
jewels) from his portrait on coins. The rather quick debasement of his
currency also indicates an inflationary economy, probably geared for the
final military showdown with the advancing Turks.
Reduced dinar, Obv.: Vuk standing, holding banner,
Cyrillic legend: VLK VLK ("Vuk"); Rev.: Christ enthroned
HISTORICAL NOTES: Prince Lazar's powerful vassal and son-in-law, commanded
the left flank of the Serbian army during the Battle of Kosovo, which he
survived. His Judas-like treachery is one of the cornerstones of the Serbian
Kosovo epic.There are several theories why tradition chose him for this
infamous role, despite the fact that contemporary chronicles mention no
such battlefield treason. Although reduced to a Turkish vassal after the
battle, he continued with Hungarophile tendencies, which led to his quick
demise following the Ottoman defeat of Hungarian-led crusaders at Nicopolis
(1396).
NUMISMATIC NOTES: These coins were probably minted in Prizren just prior to
the Battle of Kosovo. The very fact that Vuk is the only nobleman during
Lazar's (and his successors') times that put his own portrait - even with
some imperial insignia - on coins, partially attests to his ambition and
potential disuniting tendency.
Nobleman Jakov (1380's)
Reduced dinar, Obv.: Vuk standing, holding banner,
Cyrillic legend: VLK VLK ("Vuk"); Rev.: Christ enthroned, with
Cyrillic inscription "IAKV" around
HISTORICAL NOTES: The exact identity of Jakov remains a mystery, although he
also minted money with his name only. In general, the question of who had the
right to issue money in those times remains an open one, since a number of
more powerful contemporary feudal lords apparently minted none.
NUMISMATIC NOTES: The practice of the authority issuing money acknowledging
its suzerain is not uncommon at the time, and Vuk Brankovic apparently led
a liberal monetary policy, allowing autonomous minting to a number of his
petty lords and cities. On the other hand, he himself at some point minted
money showing Prince Lazar's suzerainty.
Dinar, Obv.: Cyrillic legend: DESPOT; Rev.: Christ
enthroned
HISTORICAL NOTES: A capable and educated ruler, Prince Lazar's elder son
was saddled with the task of maintaining the core Serbian statehood in the
wake the Kosovo defeat, and reviving it after Turkey's temporary decline
after the Battle of Angora. Belgrade was a fluorishing city in his time,
and Stefan's walls still form the core of the fortress' Upper City.
Dinar, Obv.: Cyrillic legend: +GIIN DESPOT surrounding monogram
of Djuradj; Rev.: Lion marching
Dinar, Obv.: Lion marching, Cyrillic legend: +GIIN DESPOT;
Rev.: Christ enthroned
Half-dinar of Smederevo, Obv.: Djuradj standing, holding
upright sword and cross; Rev.: Lion, surrounded by Cyrillic
inscription SMDRVO
Half-dinar of Rudnik, Obv.: Djuradj enthroned, holding
upright sword and cross; Rev.: Lion, surrounded by Cyrillic
inscription ROUDNIK
HISTORICAL NOTES: The popular memory of Despot Djuradj - grandson of the
famed Prince Lazar - has been partially plagued by association with his
father Vuk's ill-fated role in Serbian epics. In fact an able all-around
statesman like his uncle and predecessor Stefan Lazarevic (as attested by
one of the most beautiful pieces of medieval Serbian literature, the
anonymous speech at his funeral), he gave a new lease to life to a
truncated Serbian state wedged between Turkey and Hungary, before its
inevitable fall. As recently as WW I, the long abandoned walls of his
capital, Smederevo, were meaningfully used against the advancing German
armies, and their giant "Fat Berta" cannons.
NUMISMATIC NOTES: Djuradj's coins are generally of high artistic value,
like these with a lion, the heraldic symbol of the Brankovic family. While
not uncommon in his day, the image of a ruler with sword in hand particularly
befitted Djuradj, who battled valiantly even in his eighties, losing two
fingers against Hungarian plotters.
The Coinage of Dubrovnik
A maritime merchant city-state that emerged from the Byzantine realm,
Dubrovnik (Ragusa) became over the centuries a specific cultural combination
of old Roman roots, a predominantly South Slavic population, the Catholic
religion, and many Serbian traditions and language. During the centuries of
Turkish occupation,it remained an important harbor of Serbian literacy,
science and historiography - right until it was extinguished by Napoleon,
in 1808.
With a span of over 500 years, the Dubrovnik coinage series is remarkable,
like the Republic itself. Given here is a representative subset of the
money that existed in the 15-18th centuries.
Early Dubrovnik
Copper minca (follaro), ca. 1500. Obv.: Renessaince bust of
Governor, legend: DUX RAGUSIE; Rev.: City fortress
NUMISMATIC NOTES: Copper coinage (almost entirely absent in Serbia, with the
characteristic exception of some coastal cities) was the first to be
introduced in Dubrovnik, late in the 13th c., shortly followed by silver
money.
HISTORICAL NOTES: The most prominent city wall features shown on the coin -
the 14th century City bell tower and Minceta fortress tower - survive
as masterpieces until today, despite the earthquake of 1667.
16-17th c. Dubrovnik
Dinar, mid-16th c. Obv.: St. Blaise, patron saint of the city,
legend: RAGUSE BLASIUS; countermarked with city walls; Rev.:
Christ standing; countermarked with St. Blaise's head
HISTORICAL NOTES: The times of the most famous playwriter of Dubrovnik,
Marin Drzic. Cyrillic Serbian writing was widely used, even for some
Catholic religious texts.
NUMISMATIC NOTES: Countermarks were used as a cheap way of "recycling"
money - certifying with a stamp that old money is complying with new standards.
The one seen here depicts the city protector - St. Blaise (Vlaho), a Greek
Christian missionary from Asia Minor that was martyred early in the 4th c.AD.
Artiluk (3 dinars), 1635. Obv.: Bust of St. Blaise; Rev.:
City view, denomination, coats of arms, legend:GROS.ARG.TRIP.CIVI.RAGU
HISTORICAL NOTES: The early 17th c. in Dubrovnik saw the appearance of Marin
Getaldic's mathematical works, Orbini's "Kingdom of the Slavs" - an
invaluable account of earlier Serbian history, and Ivan Gundulic's "Osman" -
the vernacular Serbian epic that celebrated Christian, Slavic, and Serbian
causes in the struggle against the Ottomans.
Dinar, 1660. Obv.: St. Blaise, legend: RAGUSE BLASIUS;
Rev.: Christ standing, legend: TVTA SALVS
HISTORICAL NOTES: Seven years later, the Great earthquake will deliver a
devastating blow to the City, whose competitive trading advantages had
already diminished. By then, Jesuit influences started dominating over
old Renessaince ones, as did Latin literature over Serbian.
NUMISMATIC NOTES: During the 17th century, the rendition of St. Blaise's
attire changed from the original Greek to a Latin one.
18th c. Dubrovnik
Perpera (12 dinars), early 18th c. Obv.: St. Blaise;
Rev.: Christ
Vizlin (Talir), 1746. Obv.: Baroque bust of Governor;
Rev.: Coat of arms of Dubrovnik.
Vizlin, 1768. Obv.: Classicist bust of Governor; Rev.:
Coat of arms
HISTORICAL NOTES: Another famous mathematician and astronomer,
Rudjer Boskovic, wrote his great works around this time.
Coinage of Serbia and Montenegro (19-20th century)
Emerging as independent states in the 19th century, the Serbian
principalities (later kingdoms) of Serbia and Montenegro resumed the
practice of issuing their own money rather late. Prior to that,
monetary deals were typically settled with some combination of
Turkish and Austrian currency.
Serbia, whose national liberation started in 1804 and included periods of
full independence and varying degrees of autonomy from the Ottomans,
started minting coins in 1868. Three small copper denominations
(1, 5, 10 para) were issued in around 7 million pieces each, and these
were shortly followed with larger silver and gold coins.
Tucked in the barren hinterland of the southern Adriatic coast,
Montenegro enjoyed a semi-autonomous status within the Ottoman Empire
for a long time before securing de-facto independence at the end of the
18th c., but started issuing money only in the early 20th c.
One reason
for this is lack of metal, as no mines operated there at the time.
(Asked by Rotschild in 1851 why his state doesn't mint money, the
famous Montenegrin statesman, poet and philosopher P.P. Njegos replied:
"Sir, if coins were minted in stone, we would've had them long ago...".
Ironically, the first silver mine which also spurred coin production in
Medieval Serbia was Brskovo, located in northern Montenegro.) Minting
commenced in 1906, with four small denomination issues (1-20 para),
later to be followed by larger denominations in precious metals.
Commemorative medal for the 50th anniversary of the Second
Serbian insurrection, 1865. Obv.: Con joined busts of Princes
Mihailo and Milos, Cyrillic legend: KNAZ MILOS OBRENOVIC * KNAZ
MIHAIL OBRENOVIC; Rev.:Personification of Liberty with lion,
Cyrillic legend: U SLAVU USTANKA KNAZA MILOSA 1815. BLAGODARNA SRBIA
("In honour of the uprising of Prince Milos in 1815, a grateful Serbia")
1 para, 1868. Obv.: Prince Mihailo's bust, Cyrillic
legend: OBRENOVIC III KNJAZ SRBSKI ("Obrenovic III, Prince of Serbia");
Rev.: Denominationin wreath
10 para, 1868. Same design as above.
HISTORICAL NOTES: Together with his prime minister Ilija Garasanin,
Mihailo started actively promoting the crucial idea of uniting all Serbs in
one land.The peaceful expulsion of the last six Turkish garrisons in 1867
meant the final step towards full independence of Serbia, to be ratified by
the Berlin Congress in 1878.
NUMISMATIC NOTES: This single-year issue of Prince Mihailo was the first
modern Serbian coinage. Only 3 years older, the commemorative medal was
minted before Vuk Karadzic's important language reform.
5 Dinars, 1879. Obv.: Milan's bust, Cyrillic legend:
OBRENOVIC IV KNJAZ SRPSKI Rev.: Denomination in wreath
2 Dinars, 1879. Obv.: Milan's bust, Cyrillic legend:
OBRENOVIC IV KNJAZ SRPSKI Rev.: Denomination in wreath
HISTORICAL NOTES: The Eastern Crisis, which started with the Serb uprising
against the Turks in Bosnia-Hercegovina (1875), included the Serbo-Turkish
war and ended with the Berlin Congress of 1878, taxed the nation heavily
but produced rather paltry results, as one of the main aims - liberation
of the Bosnian Serbs - was thwarted by Austrian occupation.
Dinar, 1897. Obv.: ALEKSANDAR I OBRENOVIC KRALJ SRBIJE;
Rev.: Denomination in wreath
HISTORICAL NOTES: An ineffective leader, incapable of facing numerous
challenges at home and abroad. His assassination in 1903 ended the
Obrenovic dynasty.
5 dinars, 1904. Obv.: Con joined busts of Petar and his
grandfather Karadjordje, Cyrillic legend: PETAR I KARADJORDJE; Rev.:
Serbian coat of arms
Dinar, 1915. Obv.: PETAR I KRALJ SRBIJE ("Peter I, King of
Serbia"); Rev.: Denomination in wreath
HISTORICAL NOTES: This period saw new heights in democratic institutions and
economic prosperity, and after the triumphant end to the Balkan and First
World Wars, led to Serbia's pinnacle in 1918 - when the new state,
Yugoslavia, was built around it.
NUMISMATIC NOTES: The 5 dinar coin commemorates, on its 100th anniversary,
the beginning of the First Serbian insurrection against Turkish rule (1804),
led by Peter's grandfather Karadjordje - the beginning of modern Serbian
statehood.
2 Perpers, 1910. Obv.: Bust of Nikola, legend: NIKOLA I
B.M. KNJAZ I GOSPODAR CRNE GORE ("Nikola I, by grace of God Prince and
lord of Montenegro"); Rev.: Denomination and Montenegrin coat of arms,
Cyrillic legend: KNJAZEVINA CRNA GORA ("Principality of Montenegro")
Perper, 1912. Obv.: NIKOLA I B.M. KRALJ I GOSPODAR CRNE
GORE; Rev.: Denomination and Montenegrin coat of arms, Cyrillic
legend: KRALJEVINA CRNA GORA ("Kingdom of Montenegro")
HISTORICAL NOTES: The long rule of this statesman and poet, while not
without controversies, saw a steady territorial and political growth of
the other Serbian state, right until its incorporation into Yugoslavia.
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