Djuradj Brankovic Master of Kosovo (1402-1412)
Silver "face" type. 17mm, 0.944g.
Serbian Kosovo issue most likely Novo Brdo mint.
Obverse: Large head of Djuradj in the middle. Serbian Cyrillic description: ✶ Г-О ✶ Рb ✶ Г ✶Ь (DJURADJ). 4 stars around.
Reverse: Christ standing in glory, surrounded by two pearl circles, blessing with his right hand and holding book of gospels decorated with a large X in his left hand. IC - XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) to the sides in the middle.
Reference: Jov 42-3,J 42-5, LJ (XIII-11), I (45.4).
Comment: Extremely rare and beautiful early type of Djuradj Brankovic issued 1402-1412 when he was Master of Kosovo. Perfect untouched patina just what you want to see on medieval coins.
It was either issued while he shared rulership of Kosovo with his brother Lazar Brankovic 1406-1410 or in those couple years after his brothers death 1410-1412. There is a joint issue of Lazar and Djuradj, Jovanovic reference is Jov 42-1 and 39-1, Dimitrijevic D 292 1,2, my reference is Knezevic 427.
This type is therefore issued 15-20 years before he became despot in 1427.
At the beginning of the Ottoman conquest of the southern Serbian territories, in 1455, the Turks made a population census in Kosovo, which they, for an obvious reason, called "Branković Region" and recorded a majority Serbian population.
There is a variant with 4 lilies around instead of stars and a type with a lion in the middle instead of rulers large head, Jovanovic reference is Jov 42-4.
Description on the obverse begins on the top and goes in the shape of the cross, top down and left to right, Г-О Рb Г Ь (DJURADJ). It’s interesting to notice that Г-О supposed to be ГЮ what is the case on some types but here moneyer has decided to join those two letters together.
Image of Djuradj, I believe, is faithfully portrayed. Moneyer has done his best and succeeded in representing Djuradj the way he looked at the beginning of the 15th century, with his long curly hair and long beard, large eyes and strong cheek bones. A truly amazing work of art!
There are only 7 registered examples weight from 0.54g to 1.00g. With this one I know of 3 more and 1 sold on Rudnik website around 10-15 years ago so total known are 12.
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