Serbian Medieval Coins

Nobleman Vuk Brankovic (1371-1397).

Silver "lion" type. 15mm, 0.6g.

Obverse: Lion with a wide open mouth marching to the right. Serbian legend: X BΛbKb E E Б E (VUK) around. 6 dots on lions chest and neck.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems with larger middle gem.

Reference: Ljubic 1875 V, Maric 1956 T XIX 6/4, J 107, Jov 33-5, LJ (XIII-2), I (31.16), D 196 14-21.

Comment: Extremely rare and hard to find coin. Only known Vuk coin with lion marching which is very characteristic of his son, Djuradj Brankovic coins.

After the Battle of Kosovo, Vuk refused to become an Ottoman vassal and started to plan anti-Ottoman action together with the Hungarian king Sigismund. However, Vuk was unable to resist the Ottomans for long. In 1392, they captured Skopje and forced Vuk to become their vassal and pay tribute. He only accepted it to buy time plotting against the invaders.

Only 30 registered examples.

Nobleman Vuk Brankovic (1371-1397)

Silver "lion" type. 14mm, 0.7g.

Obverse: Lion marching to the right, Serbian legend: X BΛbKbE E EБE (VUK ) around. 7 dots on his chest.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Large flower on the right side. IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above.

Reference: Ljubic 1875 V, Maric 1956 T XIX 6/4, J 107, Jov 33-5, LJ (XIII-2), I (31.16), D 196 17.

Comment: Extremely rare and hard to find coin. Only known Vuk coin with lion marching which is very characteristic of his son, Djuradj Brankovic coins.

Vuk showed resistance to Ottomans, refusing to participate on the Ottoman side in the battles of Rovine (1395) and Nicopolis (1396). He also maintained contacts with Hungary. Finally the Ottomans ended this situation by attacking Vuk in 1396, seizing his land and giving most of it to prince Stefan Lazarević, while Vuk himself was imprisoned and died following year, 6 October 1397, in an Ottoman prison. A small part of Vuk's land with the towns of Priština and Vučitrn did remain in the hands of his sons.

Only 30 registered examples.

Nobleman Vuk Brankovic (1371-1397)

Silver "banner" type. 16mm, 0.9g.

Obverse: Nobleman Vuk standing facing with triangle 2 dots decoration next to the left leg, bareheaded with banner and loros. Cyrillic legend: a BΛbKb BΛbKb (VUK VUK) around.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. 4 triple dotted marks around the throne.

Reference: Jov 33-24, I (31.6).

Comment: Similar to below examples but without without Jakov signature and different image of Nobelman Vuk so issued by different moneyer.

Only 18 registered examples.

Nobleman Vuk Brankovic (1371-1397)

Silver "scepter" typeunder moneyer Jakov. 18mm, 1.2g.

Obverse: Nobleman Vuk standing facing, bareheaded with banner and loros. Cyrillic legend: BΛbKb BΛbKb (VLK VLK) around.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Cyrillic legend: IAK Bb (JAKOB).

Reference: D 220-10 compare to J 37-3.6 (dots only under arms not down next to legs).

Comment: This coin is issued and signed by unknown moneyer Jakov. Unusually large Jakov signature on the reverse. and uncommon dots under rulers hands. Like 2 examples below this one doesn't have triangle 2 dots decoration next to the left leg but dotted lines down at the side of both legs. Only Dimitrijevic in his book list this variant.

Nobleman Vuk Brankovic (1371-1397)

Silver "banner" type under moneyer Jakov. 16mm, 0.810g.

Obverse: Nobleman Vuk standing facing with triangle 2 dots decoration next to the left leg, bareheaded with banner and loros, Cyrillic legend: aBΛbKb BΛbKb (VLK VLK) around.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Cyrillic legend: IAK Bb (JAKOB).

Reference: J 37-3.4, J 113, Jov 33-27, LJ (XII-25), I (33.2).

Comment: This coin is issued and signed by unknown moneyer Jakov.

The turning point of Vuk's ascension to power in post-Nemanjić Serbia was his marriage with Mara, daughter of the most powerful Serbian magnate prince Lazar Hrebeljanović, which brought him substantial lands in Kosovo and the city of Zvečan as dowry. This marriage sealed the alliance between two houses and secured Lazar's assistance for Vuk's future plans, allthough Vuk in return had to acknowledge Lazar as his feudal senior. Soon after the marriage, Lazar, Vuk and king Tvrtko I of Bosnia attacked župan Nikola Altomanović, who ruled in the western part of Serbia, and conquered and divided his lands in 1373. In the partition of Altomanović's land, Vuk got areas of Raška (including the old Serbian capital Ras) and lands in Polimlje (northern Montenegro).

Only 15 registered examples.

Nobleman Vuk Brankovic (1371-1397)

Silver "banner" typeunder moneyer Jakov. 16mm, 0.75g.

Obverse: Nobleman Vuk standing facing with triangle 2 dots decoration next to the left leg, bareheaded with banner and loros, Cyrillic legend: aBΛbKb BΛbKb (VLK VLK) around.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Cyrillic legend: IAK Bb (JAKOB).

Reference: J 37-3.4, J 113, Jov 33-27, LJ (XII-25), I (33.2).

Comment: This coin is issued and signed by unknown moneyer Jakov.

Only 15 registered examples.

Nobleman Vuk Brankovic (1371-1397)

Silver "banner" type under moneyer Jakov. 15mm, 0.7g.

Obverse: Nobleman Vuk standing facing with triangle 2 dots decoration next to the left leg, bareheaded with banner and loros, Cyrillic legend: aBΛbKb BΛbKb (VLK VLK) around.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Cyrillic legend: IAK Bb (JAKOB).

Reference: J 37-3.4, J 113, Jov 33-27, LJ (XII-25), I (33.2).

Comment: This coin is issued and signed by unknown moneyer Jakov.

After the death of Đurađ I Balšić (13 January 1378), Vuk captured his cities of Prizren and Peć and the area of Metohija. At its peak, the realm of Branković stretched from Sjenica in the west to Skopje in the east, with the cities of Priština and Vučitrn serving as its capitals. The most important cities in Vuk's province were Priština, Prizren, Peć, Skopje and Ras, as well as the rich mining settlements of Trepča, Janjevo, Gluhavica and others.

Only 15 registered examples.

Nobleman Vuk Brankovic (1371-1397)

Silver "2 lines" type. 15mm, 0.651g.

Obverse: Serbian legend in 2 lines: + BΛb Kb (VUK) in two lines, letter A and 5 dot pellet on the bottom, control symbol (flowering branch) on the right side.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above.

Reference: Jov 33-16/20, I 31.8,10, Lj XIII-26.

Comment: Lovely and very rare example with very nice patina. All details very clear and visible. Especially face of Jesus is nice and clear.

Vuk was Serbian medieval nobleman who, during the fall of the Serbian Empire, inherited a province that extended over present day southern and southwestern Serbia, the northern part of present day Macedonia and northern Montenegro. His state was known as Oblast Brankovića (District of Branković) or simply as Vukova zemlja (Vuk's land), which he held with the title of gospodin (lord, sir) under Prince Lazar of Serbia. After the Battle of Kosovo (1389), Vuk was briefly the most powerful Serbian lord.

Only 36 registered examples.

Nobleman Vuk Brankovic (1371-1397)

Silver "2 lines" type. 15mm, 0.9g.

Obverse: Serbian legend in 2 lines: +BΛbKb (VUK) in two lines, 3 groups of 3 pellets, control symbol (flowering branch) to lower left.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above.

Reference: Jov 33-16/20, I 31.8,10, Lj XIII-26.

Comment: Another example with different symbol. Prince Lazar's son-in-law and ally, Vuk commanded the flank of the Serbian army during the Battle of Kosovo and was the most prominent Christian survivor.

Branković was born in 1345 and belonged to a Serb noble family which held a prominent role under the Nemanjić dynasty in the 13th and 14th century. Vuk was a son of Branko Mladenović (died before 1365), who received the high court title of sevastokrator from Emperor Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–1355) and served as governor of Ohrid (present day Macedonia). Vuk's grandfather was Mladen (died after 1326), who was župan (count) in Trebinje under King Stefan Milutin (1282–1321) and vojvoda (duke) under King Stefan Dečanski (1321–1331). Later chronicles alleged that the Branković descended from Vukan Nemanjić, son of Stefan Nemanja.

Only 36 registered examples.

Nobleman Vuk Brankovic (1371-1397)

Silver "2 lines" type. 13mm, 0.266g.

Obverse: Serbian legend in 2 lines: BΛb Kb (VUK) in two lines, control symbol (flowering branch with 8 dots) on the left side.

Reverse: Christ standing, holding large book of gospels decorated with 5 gems and blessing with his right hand. Cyrillic description on the left: B I I B I I. Possibly meant to be BK BK (VUK VUK).

Reference: Jov 33 9.1, J 33 10, I 31 12, D 202 38-41.

Comment: Very rare and unusual example. Usually there should be reference to Jesus IC XC instead rulers name has been repeated. Very large head of Jesus as well. Small crack.

Vuk's grandfather was Mladen (died after 1326), who was župan (count) in Trebinje under King Stefan Milutin (1282–1321) and vojvoda (duke) under King Stefan Dečanski (1321–1331). Later chronicles alleged that the Branković descended from Vukan Nemanjić, son of Stefan Nemanja.

Only 8 registered examples.

Nobleman Vuk Brankovic (1371-1397)

Silver "3 lines" type. 14mm, 0.489g.

Obverse: Serbian legend in 3 lines: x BΛK OBb ΔH NАRb (VUK`S DINAR), followed by two moneyer symbols, a shield and Га (Jakov monogram).

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems.

Reference: J 108, Jov 33-3, LJ (XII-27), I (31.14), Lj XII-27.

Comment: Rare and first occurrence on medieval Serbian coinage, word "dinar" probably coming from Roman denarius.

Three dotted lines were used to represent the throne that Jesus is sitting on.

Only 23 registered examples.

Nobleman Vuk Brankovic (1371-1397)

Silver "3 lines" type. 15mm, 0.659g.

Obverse: Serbian legend in 3 lines: x BΛK OBb ΔH NАRb (VUK`S DINAR), followed by two moneyer symbols, a shield and unclear symbol.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems.

Reference: J 108, Jov 33-3, LJ (XII-27), I (31.14), Lj XII-27.

Comment: Rare and first occurrence on medieval Serbian coinage, word "dinar" probably coming from Roman denarius.

Three dotted lines were used to represent the throne that Jesus is sitting on.

Only 23 registered examples.

Nobleman Vuk Brankovic (1371-1397)

Silver "3 lines" type. 15mm, 0.700g.

Obverse: Serbian legend in 3 lines: x BΛK OBb ΔH ИАRb (VUK`S DINAR), followed by two control symbols (moneyer monograms).

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems.

Reference: J 108, Jov 33-3, LJ (XII-27), I (31.14).

Comment: Rare and first occurrence on medieval Serbian coinage, word "dinar" probably coming from Roman denarius. This coin was issued by different moneyer from above example.

Nobleman Vuk Brankovic (1371-1397)

Silver "2 lines" type. 0.6g.

Obverse: Serbian legend in 2 lines: +BΛbKb (VUK) in two liens, 3 groups of 3 pellets, control symbol (ibis with the snake in herbeak) to lower right.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels.

Reference: Jov 33-16/20, I 31.8,10, Lj XIII-26.

Comment: Rare coin with large VUK meaning wolf. Born in 1345 Master of Kosovo District Vuk Brankovic ruled for 24 years and survived famous Battle of Kosovo in 1389. He died October 6th 1397.

Only 36 registered examples.

Serbian medieval coins

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