Utilizați butonul de Translate din dreapta pagini pentru traducere.
The Bulgarian National Bank has updated its extensive and detailed numismatic catalog, available in PDF format on its website. This comprehensive work of over 200 pages offers a fascinating overview of all coins issued between 1879 and 2024. It is an essential reference tool for collectors, historians, and numismatic enthusiasts, and is well worth downloading and keeping.
Origins of the Bulgarian currency
Founded in 1879, the Bulgarian National Bank witnessed, just a year later, a significant legislative step: the Second Ordinary National Assembly passed the Mining Rights Law, which granted the state a monopoly on currency issuance. This law also officially introduced the lev as a monetary unit, subdivided into 100 stotinki. The system was inspired by the Latin Monetary Union, adopting copper, silver, and gold coins.
The first issues were commissioned abroad: the copper two-, five-, and ten-stotinki coins were minted in England, while the silver one- and two-lev coins were issued in Russia in 1882. In 1894, the first gold coins—10, 20, and 100 levs—were issued, and a few years later, the Principality's Coinage Law of 1897 officially established the gold lev as the basis of the monetary system.
At various times in history, the Bulgarian National Bank—either as an independent entity or under the umbrella of the Ministry of Finance—commissioned the production of coins from European countries such as Russia, the United Kingdom, Austria-Hungary, France, Belgium, Germany, and Yugoslavia.
The Bulgarian Mint
In 1952, the Bulgarian Mint was founded, marking the beginning of a new era: the country resumed domestic minting. The first coins were issued as standard currency, and commemorative pieces began to be issued in 1965. Since then, various metals and alloys have been used, including gold, silver, platinum, aluminum, copper-nickel, and even iron.
Beyond their economic value, Bulgarian coins capture the spirit of their times: they are silent witnesses to the country's historical, political, and cultural evolution, and tangibly reflect its identity and heritage.
A new stage: towards the euro in 2026
Bulgaria is currently in the final stages of its journey toward euro adoption, with the goal set for January 1, 2026. While it has yet to fully meet the economic convergence criteria required by the European Union, both the Bulgarian government and the EU institutions consider accession viable. This potential switch will mark the symbolic close of a national monetary era that has lasted almost 150 years, giving the catalogue even greater historical significance.
The updated catalog
The Bulgarian National Bank's numismatic catalog is regularly reviewed and updated. It presents all coin issues in a clear and organized structure, divided into sections corresponding to different historical periods. Within each section, the coins are organized chronologically and grouped by thematic series.
A fundamental reference work that documents, through design and coinage, the history of a nation.
A fundamental reference work that documents, through design and coinage, the history of a nation.
Sursa informațiilor aici.
Niciun comentariu:
Trimiteți un comentariu