Exceptional Trachy of Ivan Asen II

CNG 84, Lot: 1710. Estimate $500. Sold for $1200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BULGARIA, Second Empire. Ivan Asen II. 1218–1241. Æ Trachy (29mm, 2.43 g, 6h). Trnovo mint. Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator; IC XC across field / Ivan Asen II and St. Dimitrii standing facing, holding star-tipped staff between. Dochev, pp. 67-8, Table XXV, 1 and pl. 8, 13; Raduchev & Zhekov Type 1.2.2; Youroukova & Penchev 35-6. Good VF, pleasing brown surfaces, small flan crack. An exceptional strike for issue.

The succession of Ivan Asen II reversed the trend of territorial loss and, once again, Bulgaria engaged in a policy of territorial expansion. After recovering the lands lost under Boril, Ivan Asen II then occupied Odrin and Albania. Through diplomacy, he regained the cities of Belgrade and Branicevo which had been lost to Hungary, as well as some lands from the Latin Empire. Following Ivan’s major success at Klokotnitsa in 1230, the Epirus Despotate became a Bulgarian vassal. In an inscription from Tarnovo in 1230 he entitled himself "In Christ the Lord faithful Tsar and autocrat of the Bulgarians, son of the old Asen". The Bulgarian Orthodox Patriarchate was restored in 1235 with approval of all eastern Patriarchates, thus putting an end to the union with the Papacy. Ivan Asen II had a reputation as a wise and humane ruler, and opened relations with the west, especially Venice and Genoa, to diversify the trade of his country. The country enjoyed flourishing economy, trade relations were diversified, and around 1235 Bulgaria organized its own navy. In early 1241, Ivan Asen II defeated a column of the Mongol army of Batu Khan as it was retreating from Hungary. This defeat, however, was not decisive, and a new Mongol invasion in 1242 forced Bulgaria to become tributary to the Golden Horde. By this time, however, Ivan Asen II had died on 24 June 1241.