BULGARIA, Second Empire. Ivan Sračimir. 1352/5–1396. AR Groš (20mm, 1.32 g, 11h). Vidin mint. First chronological group, 1352/5–1365.

Triton XXIII – Session Three – Roman Imperial Coinage Part II through World Coinage Part I
Lot: 1047. Estimated: $ 300

World, Silver

Sold For $ 350. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Go to Live

BULGARIA, Second Empire. Ivan Sračimir. 1352/5–1396. AR Groš (20mm, 1.32 g, 11h). Vidin mint. First chronological group, 1352/5–1365. + Iω CPaЧHM(ИP) (ЦР)Ь БΛΓBP, half-length facing bust of Christ Pantocrator; IC XC across field / + Iω CPaЧHM(ИP) (ЦР)Ь БΛΓBP, Ivan Sračimir enthroned facing, holding lis-tipped scepter and mace. Grierson, Coins of Medieval Europe 388; cf. Dochev 4730; Raduchev & Zhekov Type 1.14.1; Youroukova & Penchev 107. Toned. Good VF.

From the Richard A. Jourdan Collection of Medieval European Coins. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 79 (17 September 2008), lot 1429.

Ivan Sračimir was the second son of Ivan Aleksander and was appointed co-emperor by his father Ivan Aleksander. At this or some later point, Ivan Sračimir was given control of Vidin, which he held for the rest of his reign. In 1365, he and his family became hostages of the Hungarians. Three years later, Sračimir was restored to his throne, but he had to acknowledge effective Hungarian overlordship. When Ivan Aleksander died in 1371, Ivan Sračimir was particularly determined to assert his independent status, and in 1381 he placed the metropolitan archbishop of Vidin under the control of the Patriarch of Constantinople, thereby effectively allying himself with the Byzantine Empire.

After the Ottoman invasion of northern Bulgaria in 1388, Ivan Sračimir was forced to acknowledge Ottoman overlordship and accept Ottoman garrisons in his land. On the death of Ivan Šišman in 1395, Sračimir tried to control part of his brother's former realm which was not yet under Ottoman control, but was unsuccessful. When the Hungarians led a crusade against the Ottomans in 1396, Sračimir allied himself with it, placing his available resources at its disposal. The crusade ended in disaster at the battle of Nikopol on 25 September 1396. In 1397 Sultan Bayezid I captured Sračimir at Vidin and had him transported to Bursa, where he died. While part of the remaining realm stayed under the control of Sračimir’s son and heir Konstantin II, independent rule of Bulgaria was effectively ended.

The final winners of all Triton XXIII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 14-15 January 2020. Triton XXIII – Session Three – Roman Imperial Coinage Part II through World Coinage Part II will be held Wednesday morning, 15 January 2020 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and in person at the public auction, 22.50% for all others.