Description
Gold perpera of Ivan Assen II (1218-1241)
Obverse: ІС ХС ЧРЬ СЛАВЭ Christ standing front on suppendion, giving blessing with right hand, holds Gospels in left.
Reverse: ІW АСЭНЬ ЧРЬ СТЫ ДМТ The tsar (left) crowned by St. Demetrius (right) both standing facing. The tsar wears stemma, divitision and loros. St. Demetrius (standing on suppendion) wears short military tunic, breastplate and sagion, giving a long sword with left hand into the hands of the tsar.
National Archaeological Institute with Museum
Technical parameters
Metal – copper 999/1000 with 24 carat gold plating
Quality – PROOF
Weight – 15 g
Diameter – 34 mm
Packaging – capsule and luxury cardboard packaging
The beginning of the Bulgarian Medieval coinage was set during the reign of Tsar Ivan Assen II (1218-1241), a time when the Second Bulgarian Kingdom reached its greatest territorial expansion, a period of political stability and economic growth. One type of golden and one type of copper coins were struck in the name of Ivan Assen II, mainly of a propaganda and commemorative nature. They were minted in honour of the victory of the Bulgarian monarch in the battle of Klokotnitsa in 1230 over the troops of the Thessaloniki Emperor Theodore Comnenos Doukas. The issue of a limited number of golden perpera from 18-carat gold took place in the mint of Thessaloniki, most likely as some kind of contribution imposed on the defeated country. Only one piece of the golden coins of Ivan Assen II is known so far housed in the collection of the National Institute of Archaeology with Museum.