Medieval Balkans

Thanks 'svslav'. No, actually I'm of English and Irish heritage. Eastern European coins are of a particular interest (the Balkans in particular) because of all the changes that have gone on in the past 20 years. Some of the events of the medieval Balkans have molded what is currently happening.

~Daniel

This next specimen is a silver Grosso from the REPUBLIC OF RAGUSA (now Dubrovnik, Croatia) 1372-1383 AD. The city of Ragusa was established in 614 AD, and became a republic in 1358 after it gained independence from Venice. For the next hundred years Ragusa remained for the most part a independent entity with loose ties to the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1458, Ragusa was being threatened by the approaching military of the Ottoman Empire. To avoid a complete takeover, Ragusa signed a treaty with Ottoman Empire on which a diplomat would be sent to Constantinople (now Istanbul) each year on November 1, to make the tribute. By 1481, Ragusa became a Turkish vassal, but maintained a good deal of autonomy. However, Portuguese exploration that opened new ocean trade routes, thus the ships no longer went through the Mediterranean Sea. Also, the discovery of America, caused Mediterranean shipping to suffer. The two combining factors caused both Venice and Ragusa to go into decline. The republic came under a month long siege by the Russian fleet. The siege ended when Ragusa surrendered to France when Napoleon and his troops entered the city in 1806. The republic was officially abolished in 1808, and made part of the French Illyrian Provinces.



RAGUSA (REPUBLIC)~AR Grosso 1372-1383 AD

The next two are coins are from the Principalities of MOLDAVIA and WALLACHIA (now part of Romania and Moldova). The first specimen is a silver Groschen from Moldavia issued during the reign of Prince: Petru Musat I 1375-1391 AD. These were among the first coins struck for Moldavia, and Petru I had numerous coins minted that had patterns that would set the standard for later rulers. The second specimen is silver Ducat from Wallachia issued during the reign of Prince: Mircea I (The Elder) 1386-1418 AD. Mircea helped strengthen his country's status politically and economically in the region, and managed to control the most territory in it's history. On an added note, Mircea I was the grandfather of Vlad Tepes III~The Impaler (AKA-Count Dracula). The third specimen is a copper Bani from Wallachia 1429-1435 AD?. It is listed as being issued under Ban: Nicolae Redwitz, but some Romanian numismatists believe this might have actually been issued under Prince: Dan II (1420-1431 AD). The obverse show a crowned shield with a cross of the Teutonic Knights and initial. The reverse, while weakly struck, shows the leader standing, holding a scepter, and legend along the rim. The 'Bani' is a division of the 'Leu', and is still used in Romanian currency today.



MOLDAVIA (PRINCIPALITY)~AR Groschen 1375-1391 AD



WALLACHIA (PRINCIPALITY)~AR Ducat 1386-1418 AD



WALLACHIA~AE Bani 1429-1435?

This next specimen is a billon Denier from the DESPOTATE OF EPIRUS 1294-1313 AD. It was issued during the rule of Despot: Philip de Taranto. These were Frankish coins that were circulated in the region that is now part of northwestern Greece and Albania.



EPIRUS (DESPOTATE)~Billon Denier 1294-1313 AD

Here are two coins from the islands of RHODES under the Order of the Knights of St. John. The first is a silver Gigliato issued under Grandmaster: Juan Fernandez de Heredia 1376-1396 AD. This was overstruck on a coin issued by the previous grandmaster Robert d'Anjou. The second is silver Gigliato issued under Grandmaster: Philabert de Naillac 1396-1421 AD. The Knights of St. John were assigned to protect Rhodes, during the crusades, from the Ottoman Empire which had threatened Southeastern Europe. It's operation in Rhodes ran from 1310-1523. Later they were stationed in Malta from 1530-1798.



RHODES~AR Gigliato 1376-1396 AD



RHODES~AR Gigliato 1396-1421 AD

Those "BANATE OF SLAVONIA" coins made me think of modern Croatian kunas:


Do you think I'm right?

Wow, this is a fascinating and informative thread--thanks for posting these coins and their histories!

Thanks 'DVCollector' and 'Archraz'. This is very interesting area to collect. And some of them have very interesting stories behind them. I'll post more images as I aquire them.

~Daniel