Medieval Balkans

[Zantetsuken]

This next specimen is a silver Helm Dinar (Type 2) from the SERBIAN EMPIRE dating from 1355-1371 AD under Tsar: Stefan Uros V~The Feeble. The obverse depicts the tsar holding a cruciformed scepte, enthroned with Cyrillic initials: УРШЬ/ЧРЬ=STEFAN/TSAR. The reverse depicts Uros's crested helm with Roman legend: VROSIVSI/IMPERATOR=UROS/ EMPEROR.



SERBIAN EMPIRE~AR Helm Dinar (Type 2) 1355-1371 AD

[Zantetsuken]

The next is a series of silver Dinars issued under Knez/Prince: Lazar Hrebeljanovic. The first Dinar depicts Lazar w/ crown standing in front his throne with Cyrillic legend: КNЗЬ/ЛАЗРЬ=PRINCE LAZAR. The reverse depicts Christ in glory enthroned. The second Dinar depicts Lazar w/o crown standing with Cyrillic legend: КNЗЬ/ЛАЗРЬ=PRINCE LAZAR. The reverse depicts Christ in glory enthroned with Roman initials: IC/XC.



SERBIAN EMPIRE~AR Dinar (Type 1) 1371-1389 AD



SERBIAN EMPIRE~AR Dinar (Type 2) 1371-1389 AD

The last is a Posthumous Dinar. It was issued after the defeat and execution of Lazar at the 'Battle of Kosovo' in 1389. Following his death his son Stefan Lazarevic, who was only twelve years old at the time, became the next prince. However, since Stefan was too young to ascend the throne, Lazar's widow Princess: Milica became regent until her death in 1405 AD. The posthumous issues circulated along with some early issues under Lazarevic's reign. The obverse depicts Lazar standing holding a crucifomed scepter with Italian legend: CONTEL/AGARO=PRINCE LAZAR. The reverse depicts Christ in glory standing with Italian legend: NOVO MONTE MONETA ARGENTA=NEW SILVER MONEY.



SERBIA~AR Dinar (Posthumous) 1389 AD>

[Zantetsuken]

This next specimen is a silver Reduced Dinar from SERBIA issued under Nobleman: Vuk Brankovic~Lord of Kosovo. The obverse depicts Vuk enthroned with Cyrillic intials: ВЛКЬ/ВЛКЬ=VUK/VUK. The reverse depicts Christ in glory entroned with moneyers intitals: JAK(O)B=YAKOV.



SERBIA~AR Reduced Dinar 1371-1395 AD

[Zantetsuken]

This next specimen is a silver Dinar from the KINGDOM OF BOSNIA dating from 1461-1463 AD. It was issued under the reign of King: Stjepan Tomasevic Kotromanic who was the last king of Bosnia. Tomasevic was probably one of the unluckiest rulers in history since he lost not one, but two countries in his life. He first reigned as the last despot of Serbia after he deposed Stefan Brankovic (one of Djuradj Brankovic's sons) in April 1459. However his reign was short lived when the Ottoman Empire, lead by Sultan: Mehmed II, invaded and toppled the remainder of Serbia on June 20 1459 by capturing Smederevo. Tomasevic took refuge in neighboring Bosnia, along with his new wife Maria. After his father Stefan Tomas died on July 10, 1461, Tomasevic assumed the throne and reigned as king until 1463 when the Ottoman Empire invaded Bobovac, the royal seat. Kotromanic was forced to flee to Jajce, then later to Kluc. The Turks captured Tomasevic in Kluc, and had taken him back to Jajce where he was beheaded. His wife, Maria managed to flee to the Adriatic coast and died in exile in 1498.



BOSNIA (KINGDOM)~AR Dinar 1461-1463 AD 

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I have never even seen any such coins offered! What a wonderful collection. Your last coin reminds me of two different worlds: Venice and Flanders. The standing figure is a hallmark of Venetian coins, while the helmet and shield  is Flemish.

The Ottomans would lay the basis of present day religious strife in the Balkans and their conquests would take them further and further, until stopped by Eugène de Savoy and Jan Sobieski.

Peter

[Figleaf]

Here is one of the reasons of the amazing success of the Ottomans, an invention from Central Asia they Ottomans learned to use: the mounted archer. I met this one last week in Leeds. I have taken him from the back to show his quiver. Mounted archers combined firepower with speed to exhaust the enemy at practically no losses to themselves. They would shoot sideways while passing the enemy in full gallop. Standing in the stirrups and moving against the movement of the horse, they could keep their aim stable. This technique is still practiced in Japan and Korea, where trained mounted archers show great efficiency in hitting relatively small targets from a galloping horse.

It took a huge charge of Polish, German and Austrian heavy cavalry to break the back of the overconfident Ottoman cavalry.

Peter

[Zantetsuken]

Here is one of the reasons of the amazing success of the Ottomans, an invention from Central Asia they Ottomans learned to use: the mounted archer. I met this one last week in Leeds. I have taken him from the back to show his quiver. Mounted archers combined firepower with speed to exhaust the enemy at practically no losses to themselves. They would shoot sideways while passing the enemy in full gallop. Standing in the stirrups and moving against the movement of the horse, they could keep their aim stable. This technique is still practiced in Japan and Korea, where trained mounted archers show great efficiency in hitting relatively small targets from a galloping horse.

It took a huge charge of Polish, German and Austrian heavy cavalry to break the back of the overconfident Ottoman cavalry.

Peter

Wow! Very interesting information. That photo of the statue is really impressive. I can certainly see how the Turks gained so much control during their time.  As for Bosnia, I read that there was still resistance against the Turks after Tomasevic's death. Thus there were two more people who held the title of king (if only in symbolism). There was Matija (Matthias) Radivojevic who was allowed to sit as king between 1465-1471, when the Turks withdrew from the Kotromanic district. His role, however, was insignificant and he only had a small estate, thus there were no coins attributed to him. The next was Nikola Ilocki who was an aristocrat that was promoted to king (1471-1477) by King: Mathias Corvinus of Hungary. Nikola supposedly had a few coins attributed to him, but I've never seen them. While Nikola was technically the last king of Bosnia, Tomasevic was the last king from the Kotromanic line, and the last king when Bosnia was a meaningful state. This is what I read in the book 'Medieval Serbian Coins' by Miroslav Jovanovic. History can be a confusing thing eh?

[Zantetsuken]

This next specimen is a silver Crest Dinar from the DESPOTATE OF SERBIA dating from 1402-1427 AD issued during the reign of Despot: Stefan Lazarevic Hrebeljanovic. The obverse show the Hrebeljanovic family crest: Ox-horned helm mounted on shield with eagle and the leaders title in Cyrillic: 'ДЕС/ПУТЬ=DES/POUT'. The reverse shows Christ in glory standing w/ initials: IC/XC.



SERBIA (DESPOTATE)~AR Crest Dinar 1402-1427 AD

[Zantetsuken]

This next specimen is a silver Dinar from the KINGDOM OF SERBIA dating from 1321-1331 AD under the reign of King: Stefan Uros III~Decanski (pr:DEH-CHAN-SKI). This specimen is unique in that it has the monarchs full name and title: 'СТЕФАNЬ/ОУРШЬ/КРА/ТРЕТН=KING STEFAN UROS THE THIRD'.



SERBIA (KINGDOM)~AR Dinar (Enthroned Monarch) 1321-1331 AD

[Figleaf]

Exceptionally interesting coins from a much neglected time/area. I am enjoying this, Zantetsuken. Thanks.

Peter

[Zantetsuken]

Exceptionally interesting coins from a much neglected time/area. I am enjoying this, Zantetsuken. Thanks.

Peter

Thanks Peter. Even though this coin doesn't carry a very high price in the catalog, it's still difficult to aquire. The one or two others I've seen for this specimen had weak or poor striking making them difficult to read. Decanski didn't have it easy. His father tried to have him blinded, and he was deposed by his own son, then strangled to death in his sleep. Royalty was certainly a dirty and ugly business, wasn't it?

~Daniel