Serbian medieval coins

Map of the Serbian state under King (1331-1346) and Emperor Stefan Dusan (1346-1355), covering wide area from the river Neretva on the west to the river South Morava and Thessaloniki on the east and from the mountain Rudnik on the north to the Adriatic Sea and Nafpaktos on the south. Coastal area from the north of the city of Patras to Skadar and Split.

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346). Ninth Serbian king of the Nemanjic state.

Silver "sword" type. 20mm, 2.000g.

Obverse: King sitting on the low back throne in the warrior attire holding sword across his lap with his left arm and a cross with his right arm. Serbian Legend: СТЕФАH b + KPAΛb (STEFAN KING) around.

Reverse: Christ sitting on the high back throne, in glory, facing, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Maker marks in Serbian Letters A and I to the sides. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: D 38/3 57 - Compare to Jov 10-2, LJ (VI-1-3), J (30), I (6.2).

Comment: Very rare and beautiful type. Lovely patina, legend and design. Very rare with very clear detail and quality especially for this type. Opinions are divided for this type as some think its the money of Dusan's father Stefan Uros III Decanski. However wider and different face on this type would indicate its most likely Dusan's money while he was a king and before he became the first Serbian emperor.

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346). 

Silver "sword" type. 20mm, 1.947g.

Obverse: King sitting on the low back throne in the warrior attire holding sword across his lap with his left arm and a cross with his right arm. Serbian Legend: СТЕФАH b + KPAΛb (STEFAN KING) around.

Reverse: Christ sitting on the high back throne, in glory, facing, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Maker marks in Serbian Letters Б and Р to the sides. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: D 38/3 57 - Compare to Jov 10-2, LJ (VI-1-3), J (30), I (6.2).

Comment: Very rare variant with the sword handle tip between letters A and H. Only Dimitrijevic has this variant in his book. Lovely patina, legend and design. Very rare with very clear detail and quality especially for this type. 

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "sword" type. 20mm, 2.101g.

Obverse: King sitting on the low back throne in the warrior attire holding sword across his lap with his left arm and a cross with his right arm. Serbian Legend: СТЕФАH b + KPAΛb (STEFAN KING) around.

Reverse: Christ sitting on the high back throne, in glory, facing, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Maker marks in Serbian Letters A and I to the sides. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: D 38 47, Jov 10-2, LJ (VI-1-3), J (30), I (6.2).

Comment: Very rare variant but without the sword handle tip between letters A and H like the example above. Very nice patina and toning. On the reverse on the left side there is a large moneyer mark that is not very clear but looks like square letter A.

Only 49 registered examples.

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "sword" type. 20mm, 1.260g.

Obverse: Crowned King on low-back throne, holding cruciform scepter and sword over his lap, in full body armor wearing straight solid crown. Latin legend: +STEFA N REX (STEFAN KING) around.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Sigla N on the left and δ (Greek delta) on the right side. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: Maric 1956 T XIV 9/4, J 29, Jov 10-3, LJ (V-23,24), I (6.3).

Comment: Very scarce, very rare. E on REX is reversed. 3 dots on each side of the throne. Only 22 registered examples and 1 copper contemporary counterfeit. 

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "sword" type. 20mm, 1.821g.

Obverse: Crowned King on low-back throne, holding cruciform scepter and sword over his lap, straight solid crown. Latin legend: +STEFA N REX (STEFAN KING) around.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Sigla N on the left and δ (Greek delta) on the right side. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: Maric 1956 T XIV 9/4, J 29, Jov 10-3, LJ (V-23,24), I (6.3).

Comment: Very scarce and rare example with very nicely preserved description.

Only 22 registered examples.

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "sword" type. 21mm, 1.865g.

Obverse: Crowned King on low-back throne, holding cruciform scepter and sword over his lap, straight solid crown. Latin legend: +STEFA N REX (STEFAN KING) around.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Sigla N on the left and δ (Greek delta) on the right side. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: Maric 1956 T XIV 9/4, J 29, Jov 10-3, LJ (V-23,24), I (6.3).

Comment: Very scarce and rare example with very nicely preserved description.

Only 22 registered examples.

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "double cross" type. 19mm, 1.470g.

Obverse: Crowned king receiving double cross from saint Stefan who is holding book of gospels. 2 dots, 1 on each side of the double cross. Latin legend: STEFAN REX STEFAN (STEFAN KING STEFAN) around. Siglas T and O below.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Sigla P and R on the sides. 4 triple pellets around the throne. 2 dots, one on each side of the corner of the throne.

Reference: Jov 11 1.2, LJ V-8.

Comment: Very strong features on kings face. Very similar to example below with different name on the left side. Saint name is missing first S for saint and VS at the end and kings name is missing VS too. E on the title REX looks like square O with a line on the right side and X looks like large +. O on the bottom on the right side of the shaft also looks like square O but without a line on the right side.

Only 52 registered examples.

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "double cross" type. 19mm, 1.454g.

Obverse: Crowned king receiving cross from saint Stefan (nimbate) holding book of gospels. Latin legend: STEPAN REX S STEPAN (STEFAN KING SAINT STEFAN) around. 4 triple pellets around the throne. 2 small stars under left elbow.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Very small Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Siglas P and R on the sides. 2 stars, one on each side of the corner of the throne.

Reference: J 31, Jov 10-8, LJ (V-11,12,13,14), I (6.1).

Comment: Lovely dark brown toning and natural patina. Beautiful decorative siglas . E letter is also decorative and it looks like O with I next to it. Very interesting star at the base of the double cross shaft. There is also a small star in the both corners of the throne.

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "double cross" type. 19mm, 1.719g.

Obverse: Crowned king receiving cross from saint Stefan (nimbate) holding book of gospels. Latin legend: STEFAN REX S STEFAN (STEFAN KING SAINT STEFAN) around. Sigla P-R below. 4 triple pellets around the throne. 2 small stars under left elbow.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Very small Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Sigla O on the right side. 2 dots , one on each side of the corner of the throne.

Reference: J 31, Jov 10-8, LJ (V-11,12,13,14), I (6.1).

Comment: Lovely yellow/brown/red toning and natural patina. Saint name is not missing second S. Different siglas from below example. 

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "double cross" type. 18mm, 1.046g.

Obverse: Crowned king receiving cross from saint Stefan (nimbate) holding book of gospels. 4 dotted pellet next to the book. Latin legend: STEFAN REX STEFAN (STEFAN KING STEFAN) around. Siglas H-C below.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Sigla P on the left side. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: J 31, Jov 10-8, LJ (V-11,12,13,14), I (6.1).

Comment: Saint name is missing second S. We will call this crown branched crown type 3. X on REX is out of place sitting slightly on the left side.

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "double cross" type. 19mm, 1.680g.

Obverse: Crowned king receiving double cross from saint Stefan (nimbate). Latin legend: STEFAN REX STEFAN (STEFAN KING STEFAN) around. Siglas T-R below. o above kings head and 3 dots on the right.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Sigla M on the left side and L on the right. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: Maric 1956 T XIV 8, J 31, Jov 10-8.

Comment: Saint name is missing second S and double cross has an unusual extensions. 

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "double cross" type. 19mm, 1.315g.

Obverse: Crowned king receiving double cross from saint Stefan (nimbate) holding book of gospels. Latin legend: STEFAN REX STEFAN (STEFAN KING STEFAN) around. Sigla P below. Letter o or a circle on both sides of the double cross.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Sigla P on the left side and a bust of a woman on the right side. 4 triple pellets around the throne. Letter o or a circle on both corners of the throne.

Reference: Jovanovic, SMC, p. 30, 8. Jovanovic, Srpski Srednjovekovni Novac, 11.1.1 (attributed to Stefan Uros IV Dusan).

Comment: A very attractive example with an interesting reverse bust of a woman symbol and separated XC. Title REX has X that looks like St Andrews cross.Small piece missing.

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "double cross" type. 21mm, 1.913g.

Obverse: Crowned king receiving patriarchal double cross from saint Stefan (nimbate), holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Latin legend: STFAN STEFV (STEFAN STEFAN) around.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Siglas N - A to the sides. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: Unpublished, unique compare to J 10 6.3, D 32/20 35, Ш III/208, T. II/15, Maric 1956 T XIV 7.

Comment: Crude but unpublished example with shorten names and no royal or religious titles. Double cross is very thin with no title REX along its shaft. Figures are slim and tall and kings feet look unusually large. Christ throne is extended to the edges of the coin. IC IC instead of usual IC XC. Lovely brown/green patina.

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "helmet" type. 20mm, 1.255g.

Obverse: Ornamented helmet pointing left. Latin legend: TEFANVS DEI GRA (STEFAN BY THE GRACE OF GOD). Thick dotted line on the face of the helmet.

Reverse: Christ sitting on the very large throne with both hands raised, almost crossed and no visible book of gospels. Lilies above the each side of the throne instead of usual Greek letters: IC XC. Sigla m on the left side. 2 triple dotted pellets in the middle of the throne.

Reference: Unpublished, unique.

Comment: Very very rare coin with lovely patina and condition. Not published, it is not found in Jovanovic or Dimitrijevic catalogue so completely new type. First S in kings name is missing. This is only so far known example where Jesus has lilies above his throne instead of very common initials IC XC. Jesus is also not holding book of gospels which is almost always featured on most Serbian medieval coins. Kings title REX, also very common, is missing. Letters are unusually large and beautifully decorative with pointy ends. Helmet looks standard but 4 triple dotted pellets around are very large and circle above does not contain usual star but another circle with a dot in the middle. Beautiful example very well made and of very good quality.

Minted before Dusan became Emperor 16th April1346.

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "helmet" type. 19mm, 1.4g.

Obverse: Ornamented helmet. Latin legend: +MONITA * REX STEFA (MONEY OF KING STEFAN). Bird on the face of the helmet.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems, sigla N and O to sides. O has 2 lines inside. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. 4 triangle signs around the throne. Small o under left elbow.

Reference: Jov 11-5.1, I 6.4, Lj VII-5.

Comment: Lovely natural patina and color with a unusual and rare sigla O with 2 vertical lines inside. Interestingly O in MONITA also has 2 vertical lines inside but pointing in the opposite direction from the other one. Rare, never identified before, visible bird on the helmet face. It is possible that king Dusan helmet indeed had a opening in the shape of the small bird. Opening in the shape of the cross is much more common across the Europe in the medieval times. Helmet pointing to the left.

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "helmet" type. 19mm, 1.106g.

Obverse: Ornamented helmet. Latin legend: + MONITA * REX • STEFA (MONEY OF KING STEFAN).

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems, sigla N and O to sides. N has 2 lines and O has 1 line inside. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. 4 triangle signs around the throne. Small o under left elbow.

Reference: Jov 11-5.1, I 6.4, Lj VII-5.

Comment: Lovely natural patina and color. Small damage but very detailed with visible letters. Interestingly letters O, R and A on the obverse also have lines.

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "helmet" type. 20mm, 1.6g.

Obverse: Ornamented helmet. Latin legend: STEFANVS DI • GRA • REX • (STEFAN BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING). Square on the face of the helmet.

Reverse: Christ enthroned with both hands raised, holding book of gospels decorated with a X. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Crowned kings face on both sides.

Reference: J 11.3.3, Jov 11-2, LJ (VII-4), D 41/1 107-110.

Comment: Rare variant with Kings crowned head on reverse on each side of the throne of the Christ. Only 11 registered examples and 2 with counter-mark. Interesting "Ragusan" Christ representation with higher-back throne with an arch. Book of gospels has X on instead of usual 5 gems.

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "helmet" type. 18mm, 0.7g.

Obverse: Ornamented helmet pointing to the left. Latin legend: STEFANVS DEI GRA REX (STEFAN BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING). Squares and dotted line on the face of the helmet.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. King faces on both sides with 3 dots under each face. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: J 11.3.3, Jov 11-2, LJ (VII-4), D 41/1 107-110.

Comment: Rare counter-marked variant with Kings crowned and bearded head on reverse on each side of the throne of the Christ. Heads are positioned higher then on previous example #DUS43 but with no throne arch. Only 11 registered examples and 2 with counter-mark. 

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "helmet" type. 20mm,1.9g.

Obverse: Ornamented helmet. Latin legend: STEFANVS DEI GRA • REX (STEFAN BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING). Squares and dotted line on the face of the helmet.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels, King face on both sides. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: J 33, Jov 11-1, LJ (VI-22,24, VII-1,3), I (6.5.1), D 41/1 107-110.

Comment: Rare variant with Kings faces or coin maker faces on reverse on each side of the seated Christ. High back throne but with no arch like on #DUS43.

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "helmet" type. 18mm, 1g.

Obverse: Ornamented helmet. Latin legend: +MONITA* REX STEFA (MONEY OF KING STEFAN). Dotted line on the face of the helmet.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 4 gems around a o, sigla P - A to sides. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: Jov 11-5.1, I 6.4, Lj VII-5.

Comment: Lovely natural patina and color with a clipped side. 

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "helmet" type. 19mm, 1.5g.

Obverse: Ornamented helmet. Latin legend: +MONITA REX STEF (MONEY OF KING STEFAN).

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems, sigla M and δ (Greek delta) to the sides. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. 4 triangle signs around the throne. Triple dotted pellet under left elbow.

Reference: Jov 11-5.1, I 6.4, Lj VII-5.

Comment: Lovely natural patina and color with Greek letter Delta. Helmet pointing to the right.

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "helmet" dinar. 18mm, 1g.

Obverse: Ornamented helmet. Latin legend: + MONITA REX STEFA (MONEY OF KING STEFAN). 3 dots on the face of the helmet.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels, sigla L and U to sides. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: Jov 11-5.1, I 6.4, Lj VII-5.

Comment: Lovely but lighter natural patina and color, not clipped or counter-marked. 

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "helmet" type. 20mm, 1.810g.

Obverse: Ornamented helmet facing left. Latin legend: x MONITA • • REX STEFA (MONEY OF KING STEFAN).

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Sigla P on the left side and O with line underneath and line in the middle that looks like Д. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: Jov 11-5.1, I 6.4, Lj VII-5.

Comment: Lovely natural patina and color, not clipped or counter-marked. 

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "helmet" type. 18mm, 0.9g.

Obverse: Ornamented helmet. Latin legend: +MONITA * REX STEFA (MONEY OF KING STEFAN). Star before REX title.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 6 gems, sigla N and O to sides. O has 2 lines inside. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. 4 triangle signs around the throne.

Reference: Jov 11-5.1, I 6.4, Lj VII-5

Comment: Lovely natural patina and color with a unusual sigla O with 2 lines inside almost like a Greek letter Theta. Helmet pointing to the left.

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "helmet" type. 20mm, 1.4g.

Obverse: Ornamented helmet. Latin legend: STEFANVS DEI GRΛ • REX (STEFAN BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING). Squares and dotted line on the face of the helmet.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Siglas N - δ (Greek delta) to the sides. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: J 33, Jov 11-1, LJ (VI-22,24, VII-1,3), I (6.5.1).

Comment: Dušan was the first Serbian monarch who wrote most of his letters in Greek, also signing with the Imperial red ink. He was the first to publish prostagma, a kind of Byzantine document, characteristic for Byzantine rulers. In his royal title, Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks, his claim as Eastern Roman (Byzantine) successor is clear. He also gave Byzantine court titles to his nobility, something that would continue into the 16th century.

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "helmet" type. 19mm, 1.633g.

Obverse: Ornamented helmet facing left. Latin legend: STEFANVS DEI GRA • REX (STEFAN BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING). Squares and dotted line on the face of the helmet.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Siglas N - G (Greek delta letter) to the sides. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: J 33, Jov 11-1, LJ (VI-22,24, VII-1,3), I (6.5.1).

Comment: Lovely patina and detail. Unusual X in the REX title it looks more like a thick plus. 

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "helmet" type. 20mm, 1.4g.

Obverse: Ornamented helmet. Latin legend: STEFΛNVS DEI GRΛ • REX (STEFAN BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING).

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Siglas N - G to the sides. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: J 33, Jov 11-1, LJ (VI-22,24, VII-1,3), I (6.5.1).

Comment: Nice example but sadly parts of the coins detail is missing. Unusual X in the REX title it looks like a square with a cross. Both E letters are also reversed.  

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "helmet" type. 20mm, 1.664g.

Obverse: Ornamented helmet. Latin legend: STEFΛNVS DEI GRΛ . REX (STEFAN BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING). Tilted squares and dotted line on the face of the helmet.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Greek letters: IC XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Siglas N - G to the sides. 4 triple pellets around the throne.

Reference: J 33, Jov 11-1, LJ (VI-22,24, VII-1,3), I (6.5.1).

Comment: Nice example but sadly parts of the coins detail is missing. 

King Stefan III Dusan (1331-1346)

Silver "helmet" imitation dinar. 18mm, 1.2g

Obverse: Ornamented helmet with 3 feathers at the top. An inaccurate Latin inscription circling the rim. 

Reverse: Christ enthroned, facing, holding book of gospels decorated with 5 gems. Distorted Greek letters: IC CI (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. 4 triple pellets around the throne. Small o under left elbow.

Reference: Unpublished.

Comment: Visible letters are N?VITOS (NEVITOS or NOVITOS from Latin "novatus" meaning new, renewed, changing, change) on the left side and possible STENVIS (STEFAN) on the right side with tilted second letter S. Possible contemporary counterfeit. Still veryrare as such.

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