Bulgarian coins with religious themes and icons
The “Bulgarian Iconography” series and the other BNB coins dedicated to saints, feast days and churches
BulgarianCoins editorial team 4 min read
Orthodox icon painting is one of the strongest themes in Bulgarian coinage. Since 2003 the BNB has issued a gold series with icons, and individual coins are dedicated to monasteries, churches and Christian feast days. These coins are sought both by collectors and by people who buy them as a gift for a name day or a christening.
The “Bulgarian Iconography” series
The series began in 2003 with a small gold 20 leva coin. Since 2009 the main format has been 100 leva in 999/1000 gold, weighing 8.64 g with a diameter of 24 mm. The coins are in proof quality. The full list is on the series page.
| Year | Coin | Face value | Mintage | Issue price | Median listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | The Virgin Mary | 20 leva | 20,000 | €34 | ≈ €500 |
| 2006 | St John the Baptist | 20 leva | 12,000 | €43 | ≈ €500 |
| 2007 | St George the Victorious | 100 leva | 1,500 | €240 | ≈ €7,000 |
| 2008 | The Holy Tsar Boris I the Baptist | 20 leva | 8,000 | €51 | ≈ €400 |
| 2010 | St Naum | 100 leva | 3,000 | €409 | ≈ €1,800 |
| 2013 | Sts Constantine and Helena | 100 leva | 2,000 | €511 | ≈ €2,400 |
| 2015 | St Mina | 100 leva | 2,000 | €440 | ≈ €3,200 |
| 2017 | The Annunciation | 100 leva | 2,000 | €470 | ≈ €3,500 |
| 2020 | The Nativity | 100 leva | 2,000 | €665 | ≈ €3,500 |
| 2024 | Sts Peter and Paul | 100 leva | 4,000 | €898 | ≈ €1,950 |
| 2025 | St Patriarch Euthymius of Tarnovo | 100 leva | 3,000 | €1,324 | ≈ €2,350 |
The medians are based on current listings on Balkan Auction as of 19.10.2026. Many of the coins have only one or two listings, so treat them as a guide. Up-to-date prices are on each coin’s page and in market prices.
What makes the series valuable
Small mintage. Since 2012 most coins have been issued in 2,000–3,000 pieces. By comparison, silver commemorative coins are usually 3,000–10,000.
Gold. Each 100 leva coin contains 8.64 g of pure gold. This gives the price a “floor”.
The beauty of the icons. The images are based on famous icons from Bulgarian churches and museums. Most collectors are buying not just gold, but a work of art.
The record holder. St George the Victorious 2007, with a mintage of 1,500, is the most expensive coin in the series – see The 10 most expensive Bulgarian coins.
“Golden Apple”
In 2024 the BNB began a separate series – “Virgin Mary – Golden Apple”. It has four gold coins of 10, 20, 50 and 100 leva. The mintages are even smaller – only 300 pieces for the 100 leva of 2025. See Virgin Mary – Golden Apple, 100 leva 2024.
Churches and monasteries
The silver series “Bulgarian Churches and Monasteries” shows the Rila, Bachkovo, Troyan and other monasteries. We write about them in detail in The monasteries on Bulgarian coins.
Feast days and customs
Some coins combine a religious theme with folk customs. An example is the coloured “Palm Sunday” 2004 from the customs series. It is offered for about €370, against an issue price of under €8.
How to collect
- Start with the small 20 leva coins. They are more affordable and give a taste of the series.
- Buy new coins from the BNB at the issue price. See how it works.
- Keep the capsule and the certificate. Without them the price falls. See Certificate and packaging.
- Do not rush for the rare years. 2007 is expensive – if you are looking for it, check the seller carefully.
What the full series costs, we calculate in How to complete a whole series.
