Numismatics - King Tvrtko I’s Gold Coin

Stjepan Tvrtko I Kotromanić (c. 1338 - 1391) was the son of Duke Vladislav and Jelena Šubić. He succeeded his uncle Stjepan II Kotoromanić to the Bosnian Ban’s throne. He was crowned the first Bosnian king in 1377 in Mile near Visoko.

During Tvrtko's rule, political stability was achieved, as well as significant cultural and spiritual progress of the country, which made him the strongest ruler in the history of medieval Bosnia. It was a period of urban development, trade and mining, and the first gold coins were minted. Tvrtko's Gold Coin was probably minted in 1377 in honour of his coronation as king. On the front (obverse) is a shield with six lilies arranged in two fields. Above it is a helmet with a veil, and on each side of the coat of arms there is another lily. The Latin text written in Gothic letters reads: MONETA AUREA REGIS STEPHANI (King Stjepan's Gold Coin). The reverse shows a raised lion with the inscription: GLORIA TIBI DEUS SPES NOSTRA (Glory to you God, our hope). The Gold Coin was 30 mm in diameter, 1 mm thick and weighed 14,05 g.

As far as is known, only one copy of Tvrtko's Gold Coin has been preserved. It is known that it was found in Prijepolje and that it was bought from a Sarajevo goldsmith by numismatist Aleksandar Poljanić in 1936. It reappeared in public at an international auction in 1995 in Zagreb and was sold to an anonymous buyer for a little over 30,000 euros. (Željka Šaravanja)