The 1981 “1300 Years of Bulgaria” coin programme
The largest commemorative programme in the history of Bulgarian coinage – coins, mintages and what to collect
BulgarianCoins editorial team 4 min read
In 1981 the People’s Republic of Bulgaria marked 1300 years since the founding of the Bulgarian state in 681. The anniversary was celebrated on a national scale, with monuments, exhibitions, publications and films. In coinage it led to the largest commemorative programme in Bulgarian history. In our catalogue the series “1300 Years of Bulgaria” brings together dozens of coins from that year.
The structure of the programme
13 coins of 2 leva (cupronickel)
The heart of the programme is the series of 13 coins of 2 leva in copper-nickel, weighing 11 g, with a diameter of 30 mm and a mintage of 300,000 each. Each coin presents a stage or symbol of Bulgarian history:
- 681. The Madara Horseman
- Slavonic Letters
- Ivan Asen II
- Eight Hundred Years Since the Uprising of Asen and Petar
- The Boyana Church
- The Rila Monastery
- The Haiduk Movement
- Oborishte
- The Liberation
- The Unification
- Buzludzha, 1891
- The Republic
- Mother and Child
The selection is characteristic of the era: from the First Bulgarian Empire and medieval culture through the National Revival to the founding of the Bulgarian Social Democratic Party at Buzludzha in 1891 and the People’s Republic.
Four silver coins of 50 leva
Four of the subjects were also issued in silver: 50 leva, Ag 900/1000, 20.5 g, mintage of 10,000 each. These are The Madara Horseman, Ivan Asen II, The Republic and Mother and Child. With a mintage thirty times smaller than the copper-nickel coins, they are the most sought-after silver coins of the programme.
“Mother and Child” in three metals
The “Mother and Child” motif is the only one issued in four face values:
| Face value | Metal | Weight | Mintage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 leva | cupronickel | 11 g | 300,000 |
| 25 leva | Ag 500/1000 | 14 g | 100,000 |
| 50 leva | Ag 900/1000 | 20.5 g | 10,000 |
| 1000 leva | Au 900/1000 | 16.89 g | 2,000 |
The gold 1000 leva coin is the rarest coin of the programme and among the most sought-after Bulgarian coins of the People’s Republic period.
Circulation coins and sets
In 1981 the circulation coins – from 1 stotinka to 1 lev – were struck with the jubilee inscription “1300 Years of Bulgaria”. They are found in BU and proof quality, including in sets. For these, see the By year → 1981 section of the catalogue.
Related coins from the same year
The catalogue also includes in the series the coins “Eternal Friendship Bulgaria – USSR” (1 lev) and “Hristo Botev and Sándor Petőfi” (5 leva). In 1981 a separate series was also issued for the World Hunting Exhibition EXPO ’81 in Plovdiv – 1, 2 and 5 leva in two qualities. The difference between them is explained in the article Proof, proof-like and BU.
What to collect
- The 13 coins of 2 leva are an affordable and exceptionally beautiful goal. A mintage of 300,000 means they are easy to find. The challenge is to collect them in uniformly good condition, without spots on the cupronickel.
- The silver 50 leva are the next step – harder to find in proof quality without spots.
- The gold 1000 leva are for advanced collectors. With them, checking authenticity is essential – see Simple tests at home.
The 1981 programme is also a good example of how coins tell their story twice: once through the subjects they depict, and once through the era in which they were created.
