11th-Century Byzantine Coins Found in Turnovo

11th-Century Byzantine Coins Found in Turnovo
16 June 2008
Bulgarian News Agency

Two gold coins minted during the Byzantine Komnenos dynasty (12th Century) were discovered on Monday during excavations at the St Ivan of Rila church in Bulgaria's medieval capital of Veliko Turnovo, archaeologist Prof Nikolai Ovcharov said.

One of them bears the image of Alexios I Komnenos (reigned 1081-1118), who in 1092 replaced the debased 8-carat currency with 21-carat hyperpyrons (gold, cup-shaped coins). The other coin is similar to the first one and bears the image of Alexios's successor, John II Komnenos (1118-43).

Remnants of settlements have been found at another site in Veliko Turnovo dating back to the third millenium BC. The excavations take place on Trapezitsa - one of the three hills the city is built on.

The city became capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire after the brothers Asen and Petar declared Bulgaria's independence in 1185, after 167 years of Byzantine rule. Veliko Turnovo ("Great Turnovo") is famous for the 12th-century Tsarevetz fortress, which overlooks the city from the second hill, of the same name. The third hill is named Sveta Gora ("Holy Mountain").