The story of a coin: “Tsar Simeon the Great” 2014
From 63 leva at the BNB’s counter to €1,400 in listings – how a silver coin became a legend
BulgarianCoins editorial team 3 min read
Every coin has its story – the story of what it depicts and the story of the coin itself. Today we tell the story of one of the most impressive modern Bulgarian coins.
The ruler
Simeon I ruled Bulgaria from 893 to 927. Under him Bulgaria reached its greatest territorial extent and became one of the strongest states in Europe. He was the first Bulgarian ruler to adopt the title of tsar. His time is called the “Golden Age” of Bulgarian culture – the time of the Preslav and Ohrid literary schools and of the flowering of Slavonic writing.
The coin
In 2014 the BNB issued “Tsar Simeon the Great” as part of the series “Medieval Bulgarian Rulers”.
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Face value | 10 leva |
| Metal | silver 925/1000 |
| Quality | proof |
| Mintage | 3,000 |
| Issue price | 63 leva |
| Median listing | ≈ €1,400 |
Why it rose so much
1. The small mintage
3,000 pieces is very few for a coin on such a popular theme. Coins with mintages this small usually sell out quickly, and many of them stay permanently in collections.
2. The popular figure
Tsar Simeon is among the best-loved Bulgarian rulers. The coin is sought not only by collectors of the series but also by people who want “a coin for Simeon”.
3. The series
Collectors of the series “Medieval Bulgarian Rulers” need this coin to complete it. The other coins – Khan Krum with a mintage of 5,000 and Khan Tervel with a mintage of 3,000 – also rose, but not as much.
4. The name effect
When a coin becomes a “star”, it attracts attention and demand grows even more.
What the calculator shows
Each coin’s page has a “What if you had bought the coin at issue?” calculator. For “Tsar Simeon the Great” the result is impressive: 63 leva, about €32, in 2014 against about €1,400 in listings today. That is more than 40 times as much. See Issue price vs market price.
The lessons
- Not every coin will rise like this. “Tsar Simeon” is an exception, not the rule. Many coins from the same years trade close to their issue price. See Is coin collecting a good investment?
- A small mintage and a popular theme are the best combination.
- Condition matters. A coin with spots or without a certificate is worth less.
- A listing is not a sale. Prices in listings are asking prices. The real sale price may be lower.
If you own this coin
- Keep it in its original capsule and with its certificate.
- Do not clean it.
- If you are thinking of selling, see How to sell a collection.
- Consider insurance.
The next story
Which coin should we tell the story of next time? Write to us. See also Famous Bulgarians on coins.
The market price is the median of current listings on Balkan Auction as of 19.10.2026.
