Modern BNB coins with low mintages: which sold out fastest
From 250 pieces of the “Golden Apple” to 2,000 pieces of “Pencho Slaveykov” – the smallest mintages since 1997 and what happened to their prices
BulgarianCoins editorial team 3 min read
Mintage is the simplest indicator of rarity. For the BNB’s modern coins it is known exactly, because the bank announces it in advance. Here are the coins with the smallest mintages since 1997 and what happened to them.
Mintages of up to 2,000 pieces
| Mintage | Coin | Metal | Issue price | Median listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | Golden Apple, 50 leva 2025 | gold | 4,872 leva | no listings |
| 250 | Golden Apple, 20 leva 2025 | gold | 3,311 leva | no listings |
| 300 | Golden Apple, 100 leva 2025 | gold | 6,456 leva | ≈ €13,500 |
| 750 | Golden Apple, 10 leva 2025 | gold | 1,789 leva | no listings |
| 800 | Golden Apple, 100 leva 2024 | gold | 5,057 leva | ≈ €13,600 |
| 1,500 | St George the Victorious, 100 leva 2007 | gold | 470 leva | ≈ €7,000 |
| 2,000 | The Nativity 2020 | gold | 1,300 leva | ≈ €3,500 |
| 2,000 | Pencho Slaveykov 2016 | copper | 18 leva | ≈ €500 |
| 2,000 | Elin Pelin 2017 | copper | 18 leva | ≈ €360 |
| 2,000 | 60 Years Since the Rescue of the Bulgarian Jews 2003 | silver | 25 leva | ≈ €1,500 |
The list also includes several more gold coins of 2,000 pieces each from the series “Bulgarian Iconography” – see Coins with religious themes.
Which sold out fastest
For coins with small mintages, the BNB usually limits the number per buyer. Even so, the most sought-after ones sell out within the first hours, and sometimes within the first minutes. Queues form at the BNB’s counters, and online sales close very quickly. That is how it was with the “Preobrazhenski Monastery” in 2026.
The “Golden Apple” is the most striking example. At our last check of the BNB’s stock, only a few dozen of the 2024 100-leva coins were left. The 2025 coins have mintages of 250–300 pieces, so there are hardly any available.
Copper and silver outpace gold
The largest rise relative to the issue price is not in the gold coins but in the cheap ones. Pencho Slaveykov was sold for 18 leva and is now offered for about €500 – almost 55 times more. Gold has risen fewer times over, because it starts from a much higher price. In detail – in Issue price vs market price.
Mintage is not everything
A small mintage is necessary but not sufficient. Also important are:
- The theme. Coins for customs, famous figures and religious themes are in greater demand.
- The price. Cheap coins with small mintages are bought by more people.
- The number of collectors. A coin of 2,000 pieces with 5,000 people wanting it is rare. A coin of 2,000 pieces with 500 people wanting it is not.
Our relative rarity score from 1 to 10 on each coin’s page takes into account both the mintage and the market data. See also What makes a coin rare.
How to buy the next one
Follow Upcoming coins and be ready on release day. How buying works – in How to buy coins from the BNB.
Prices are medians of current listings on Balkan Auction as of 19.10.2026. They are asking prices, not sales.
