Serbian medieval coins

Map of the Serbian state under King Vukasin Mrnjavcevic (1365-1371), 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 Vukasin Mrnjavcevic (1365-1371)

Silver "6 lines" coin. 19mm, 1.102g.

Obverse: In 6 lines Serbian Cyrillic legend: • BЬXα • БΓαБΛαΓ OBЋPNH • KPαΛЬBΛ bKαШH • • Nb ⛬ (U HRISTA BOGA BLAGOVERNI KRALJ VUKASIN (IN CHRIST GOD THE PIOUS KING VUKASIN)). 

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding Book of Gospels decorated with 4 gems, IC - XC (Jesus Christ), δ (Greek delta) on the right side, 4 triple dotted pellets around the throne.

Reference: Jov 16 12.3, J 16 14.

Comment: Lovely example in excellent condition of this very rare type of the King Vukasin Mrnjavcevic. Description is in 6 lines. And unlike most examples full kings name VUKASIN is used in description instead of usual VUKAS like examples below and with a full royal title KPαΛb (KING).

Only 16 registered examples.

King Vukasin Mrnjavcevic (1365-1371)

Silver "5 lines" type. 19mm, 1.136g.

Reverse: In 5 lines Serbian Cyrillic legend: BБXα ∴ БαБΛΓO БЋРNHH KPαBΛБ KαШI (U HRISTA BOGA BLAGOVERNI KRALJ VUKAS (IN CHRIST GOD THE PIOUS KING VUKAS)). Single triple dotted pellet at the end of the 1st line.

Obverse: Christ standing in front of the throne decorated with a circle on the left and a star on the right side, holding in his left hand book of gospels decorated with 3 gems arranged in diagonal line and blessing with his right hand. Greek initials: IC - XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Above throne 2 flowers and 6 stars, 3 on each side. 2 triple dotted pellets on each corner of the throne.

Reference: D138 11,12

Comment: Lovely well preserved example of this extremely rare type of the King Vukasin Mrnjavcevic coinage. Beautiful patina and toning. 

Only Dimitrijevic has published this variant, Jovanovic has published similar, please compare to Jov 16 12.1, 12.2 and 12.3.

Jovanovic is claiming that Jesus is here standing in front of a tomb but 2 triple dotted pellets on each corner indicate that this is more likely throne in the distance. 4 triple dotted pellets around full image of the throne do regularly appear on most examples on Serbian medieval coins.

King Vukasin Mrnjavcevic (1365-1371)

Silver "5 lines" type. 18mm, 1.058g.

Reverse: In 5 lines Serbian Cyrillic legend: BbXα БΓαБΛα ΓOБЋРNH KPαΛbBΛ KαШH (U HRISTA BOGA BLAGOVERNI KRALJ VUKASIN (IN CHRIST GOD THE PIOUS KING VUKASIN)).

Obverse: Christ standing in front of the throne decorated with a X on the right side, holding in his left hand book of gospels decorated with gems and blessing with his right hand. Greek initials: IC - XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) above. Above throne are 7 stars, 3 on the left side and 4 on the right side. 2 triple dotted pellets on each corner of the throne.

Reference: Jov 16 12.1, Ј 16 12, I 12.7, Lj X-24.

Comment: Very nice patina and detail. Small differences from the example above. There are no flowers above the throne and there is an extra star on the obverse. There is on circle and a star on the throne but a letter X.

Next to the above in 6 lines example this is very rare type in 5 lines with a full royal title KPαΛb (KING). Most in 5 lines variants have shorter version KPα.

King Vukasin Mrnjavcevic (1365-1371). Eleventh Serbian king of the Nemanjic state.

Silver "5 lines" coin. 18mm, 1.128g.

Obverse: In 5 lines Serbian Cyrillic legend: BЬXα БαБΛΓO БЋPNHH KPαBΛЬ KαШЬ (U HRISTA BOGA BLAGOVERNI KRALJ VUKAS (IN CHRIST GOD THE PIOUS KING VUKAS)). Single triple dotted pellet at the end of the 1st line.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding Book of Gospels decorated with 4 gems, IC - XC (Jesus Christ), sigla П on the right side. 4 triple dotted pellets around the throne.

Reference: D 143 39-41.

Comment: Lovely well preserved example of this rare type of the King Vukasin Mrnjavcevic. Same coin maker also made coins for Prince Lazar Hrebeljanovic, Nobleman Djuradj I Balsic and Nobleman Vuk Brankovic who were his contemporaries.

Vukasin Mrnjavcevic was King of Serbia as the co-ruler of emperor Stefan Uroš from 1365 to 1371. Principal domains of king Vukašin and his family were located in southern parts of medieval Serbia and north western parts of the of Macedonia.

King Vukasin Mrnjavcevic (1365-1371)

Silver "5 lines" coin. 19mm, 1.083g.

Obverse: In 5 lines Serbian Cyrillic legend: • BЬXα БαБΛΓP БЋPNHↄ KPαBΛБ KαШЬ (U HRISTA BOGA BLAGOVERNI KRALJ VUKAS (IN CHRIST GOD THE PIOUS KING VUKAS)). Single triple dotted pellet at the end of the 1st line.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding Book of Gospels decorated with 5 gems, IC - XC (Jesus Christ), siglas δ (Greek delta)  on the right side. 4 triple dotted pellets around the throne.

Reference: D 143/2 35, Jov 16.16, I 12.5, Lj X-17.

Comment: Another lovely, well preserved and interesting example of this rare type of the King Vukasin Mrnjavcevic. Different reverse from example above as well as few obverse letter differences. Λ is unusual with a line above both in the 1st and 4th line. Γ is bigger and longer in the 2nd line and there is a reverse ↄ at the end of 3rd line.

152 registered examples.

King Vukasin Mrnjavcevic (1365-1371)

Silver "5 lines" coin. 18mm, 1.204g.

Obverse: In 5 lines Serbian Cyrillic legend: • BЬXα БαБΛΓP БЋPNHↄ KPαBΛБ KαШЬ (U HRISTA BOGA BLAGOVERNI KRALJ VUKAS (IN CHRIST GOD THE PIOUS KING VUKAS)). Dot above 1st line.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding Book of Gospels decorated with 5 gems, IC - XC (Jesus Christ), siglas δ (Greek delta)  on the right side. 4 triple dotted pellets around the throne.

Reference: D 143/2 35, Jov 16.16, I 12.5, Lj X-17.

Comment: Another lovely, well preserved and interesting example of this rare type of the King Vukasin Mrnjavcevic. Same reverse as example above. Λ is unusual with a line above both in the 1st and 4th line. Γ is bigger and longer in the 2nd line and there is a reverse ↄ at the end of 3rd line.

152 registered examples.

King Vukasin Mrnjavcevic (1365-1371)

Silver "5 lines" coin. 19mm, 1.256g.

Obverse: In 5 lines Serbian Cyrillic legend: • BЬXα БαБΛΓP БЋPNHↄ KPαBΛБ KαШЬ (U HRISTA BOGA BLAGOVERNI KRALJ VUKAS (IN CHRIST GOD THE PIOUS KING VUKAS)). Dot above 1st line.

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding Book of Gospels decorated with 5 gems, IC - XC (Jesus Christ), siglas δ (Greek delta)  on the right side. 4 triple dotted pellets around the throne.

Reference: D 143/2 35, Jov 16.16, I 12.5, Lj X-17.

Comment: Another lovely, well preserved and interesting example of this rare type of the King Vukasin Mrnjavcevic. Lovely light patina.Same reverse as example above. Λ is small like #VUM04 example above. Also has reverse ↄ at the end of 3rd line.

152 registered examples.

King Vukasin Mrnjavcevic (1365-1371)

Silver "5 lines" coin.

Obverse: In 5 lines Serbian Cyrillic legend: BЬ Xα+ БαБΛΓO БЪPNHH KPαBΛЬ KαШЬ (U HRISTA BOGA BLAGOVERNI KRALJ VUKAS (IN CHRIST GOD THE PIOUS KING VUKAS)).

Reverse: Christ enthroned, holding Book of Gospels decorated with 4 gems, IC - XC (Jesus Christ) above.

Reference: J 94, Jov.16-16.

Comment: In 1370 he contributed to the monasteries of Mount Athos and prepared a war against the Ottoman Empire, which his brother supported. Vukašin was to attack Trebinje in June 1371 but it was never carried out. In September 1371, he established a coalition with his brother against the Ottomans and advanced. The Serbian army of the coalition numbering around 70,000 men met the Ottoman army led by Rumeli Lala Sahin Pasha at Battle of Maritsa on 26th September 1371. The Ottomans attacked the Serbian Army while they rested and Vukašin's and his brother Ugljesa werekilled during the battle.

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