Serbian Medieval Coins

It is generally believed that Serbian king Radoslav 1228-1234 first minted Serbian medieval coins.

However here is a very interesting hypothesis that actually minting started more then 100 years earlier!

Minting of Serbian medieval coins most likely began at the beginning of the 12th century during the rule of king Vladimir II Vojislavljevic 1102-1114.

Obverse: Ruler is featured with a curly hair, without crown and without REX royal title holding cross in his right hand and a scepter in his left hand which is symbol of kingly rule.

Reverse: Small cross in the middle within a circle and Latin description: BLADIMIRVS (VLADIMIR) around. Letter B in Latin languagephonetically reads VA so it can be read VALADIMIRUS.

20mm, 2.59g.

Coins minted between the rule of king Vladimir II Vojislavljevic 1102-1114 and Grand Zupan Stefan Nemanja 1166-1196 are local city issues like these follaro type coins minted in the city of Kotor in the 12th century during the Byzantine rule.

Duklja including Kotor under Vojislavljević dynasty was independent from Byzantium from 1042 until Duklja was once again subdued by Byzantium in 1143, 100 years later. The city was conquered in 1185 by Stefan Nemanja, the ruler of the Grand Principality of Serbia and founder of the Nemanjić dynasty.

These primitive looking follaro types are most likely minted between 1143 and 1185.

First coin that's different from the other four and its probably older has visible Latin letters CATA for KOTOR.

City of Kotor issue under Nemanjic rule (1186-1250)

Copper half follaro "cross" type. 16mm, 0.600g.

Obverse: Large cross in the middle. Latin description: + CATARENSIS • (KOTOR) around.

Reverse: Bust of Saint Trifon in the middle. Latin description: Θ • SANTVS TRIPhON (SAINT TRIFON) around.

Reference: Jov 25 4.2, Dobrinic 1.2.3.1-26

Due to strong Norman-Sicilian influence it could have been minted at any time between 1186 and 1250, from the rule of Serbian grand prince Stefan Nemanja (1166-1196) until the rule of king Uros The Great (1243-1276)!

Large cross in the middle on the obverse is also very similar to an Insignia of the Knights Hospitaller, the Maltese cross, and it’s very common on crusaders coins like Italian and German coins. it could have been minted during The Third Crusade 1189-1192 or The Fourth Crusade 1202-1204 what would bring it under grand zupan Stefan Nemanja rule 1166-1196 or his son grand zupan Stefan Nemanjic 1196-1217, later king Stefan The First Crowned 1217-1228.

If this coin has been minted during The Third Crusade, in that case it would be the only Serbian coin known to be minted during the life and rule of the founder of the medieval Serbian state of All Serbian Lands and Maritime, Grand Zupan Stefan Nemanja (1166-1196). It would make it the only known Nemanja coin and therefore of extreme historical importance!

In 1193 a new type of coins began to be minted destined to become the most popular money in the world! The 41st doge of the Republic of Venice Enrico Dandolo 1192-1205 began minting silver matapan or gross type coins.

After 4th crusade, fall of Byzantine empire and sacking of Constantinople by Venetians and doge Enrico Dandolo 1202-1204, Latin empire is established and Venice controlled Adriatic sea, independent trade city of Dubrovnik and Byzantine lands all the way to the east and Black Sea. Trade routes made Venice and Dandolo family one of the richest in the world! Venetian money does became most popular currency in the world.

Obverse: Standing on the left doge Enrico Dandolo. Latin description: XN DANDOL, in the middle title DVX and on the right saint Mark the protector of Venice and Latin description: S M VENETI.

Reverse: Jesus seating on the throne, above IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ).

In 1206/1207 Serbian Grand Zupan Stefan Nemanjic 1196-1217 marries no other but the grand daughter of Enrico Dandolo, from one of the richest and most influential families in the world, Ana Dandolo. This relationship directly led to papa Honorius III granting him crown, king title and a kingdom. With the help of Venetian experienced moneyers and the silver provided by them, king Stefan The First Crowned 1217-1228 minted the first Serbian silver medieval coins.

Obverse: Standing on the left king Stefan The First Crowned. Latin description: STEFANV, in the middle title REX and on the right saint Stefan the protector of Serbia and Latin description: S STEFANV.

Reverse: Jesus seating on the throne, above IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ).

As king Radoslav 1228-1234 was closely related to Byzantine royal family through his mother Eudokia Angelina, he started minting coins similar to Byzantine, larger, copper, cup types.

Copper cup "double cross" type coin. 29mm, 5.022g.

Obverse: King in imperial attire facing, standing with St Constantine holding double cross banner together. St Constantine is holding his own smaller banner or scepter. Greek Legend: CTEФANOC PIZ (STEFAN KING) on the left and on the right side Greek letter Theta Θ and KONCTANTH (SAINT CONSTANTINE) referring to Constantine the Great, also known as Constantine I who was a Roman Emperor who ruled between 306 and 337 AD and born on the territory of today's Niš Serbia.

Reverse: Jesus Christ sitting on the high throne holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems in his left hand a blessing with his right hand. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. 4 dots inside halo, 2 on each side.

Reference: J ( 3 ), I ( 1.4 ), D (1).

It is very rare for 2 sons of a king to rule after their father but in medieval Serbia 3 sons of king Stefan The First Crowned ruled after each other. After the rule of king Radoslav 1228-1234 and king Vladislav 1234-1243, his 2 older brothers, king Uros The Great 1243-1276 ruled for 33 years. Only his son king Milutin will rule longer, 39 years from 1282 to 1321.

King Uros The Great 1243-1276, as his mother was venetian Ana Dandolo, retuned to venetian matapan Grosso type coins. After opening of first Serbian mine called Brskovo in 1250 Venetians started complaining and the quality of Serbian coins as well as their adherence to venetian standard began to decline.

Silver "banner" type coin. 20mm, 2.115g.

Obverse: Bare headed king receiving banner from saint Stefan , holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Mixed Latin/Greek legend: VRωSIVS RςΨ • S • STEFANV, (UROS KING SAINT STEFAN). + on the flag of the banner. Flag is represented with 3 horizontal lines. Saint has 4 dotted pellet on his chest.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Single dot next to the right leg. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: Unpublished variant compare to Ljubic III, Maric 1956 T XIII 5/6, D 4 8.

With the rule of king Stefan Dragutin 1276-1282 Serbian medieval coins will develop into the most beautiful works or art! King Dragutin first changed standard cross to saint Andrews cross on the matapan type, first changedflag to double cross on the matapan type, first started minting other types and first issued coins with Cyrillic Serbian description.

During Nemanjic period Serbian kingdom will become empire under the rule of first Serbian emperor Stefan Dusan, king from 1331 to 1346 and emperor from 1346 to 1355. Nemanjic period will last until 1371 followed by Mrnjavcevic, Kotromanic, Lazarevic and Brankovic families.

Silver "helmet" type. 18mm, 1.180g.

Obverse: Coat of arms within circle represented by crowned helmet over shield. Latin description: + STEPAN • CRAGL (STEFAN KING) around. R on the left and double star on the right.

Reverse: Saint Gregory standing with cardinal's hat and long staff. Latin description: S GREGO RI • PAPE (SAINT GREGORY PAPA) around.

Reference: Ren 1133, Jov 62-2, LJ XVII-14.

The 350 year long minting history of Serbian medieval coins began at the beginning of 12th century with the rule of Serbian king of Duklja Vladimir II Vojislavljevic 1102-1114 and finished with the rule of king Stefan Tomasevic 1461-1463 and Ottoman invasion. This is just medieval period. There is also modern period that has so far lasted 155 years from 1868 to 2023. Total Serbian coin minting history is impressively more then 500 years long!