The “Bulgarian Artists” series: a complete guide
14 copper coins from Dechko Uzunov to Krastyo Sarafov – mintages, prices, designers and what they are worth today
BulgarianCoins editorial team 6 min read
“Bulgarian Artists” is the BNB’s longest-running copper series. Since 2009 it has produced 14 coins honouring painters, writers, composers and actors – from Zahariy Zograf to Krastyo Sarafov. Their issue prices are among the lowest of any Bulgarian commemorative coin, and some of them are now offered at dozens of times that price.
What the coins have in common
All 14 coins are struck in copper, weigh 16.4 g and measure 34.2 mm. The first 13 have a face value of 2 leva; 150 Years since the Birth of Krastyo Sarafov of 2026 is the first coin in the series with a face value of 5 euro. Each coin marks a round anniversary of an artist’s birth, and the reverse almost always shows a portrait with the wording “… years since the birth of …” in circumference. Mintages range from 2,000 to 8,000 – lower than in most silver series.
All 14 coins at a glance
| Year | Coin | Born | Mintage | Issue price | Median of listings | × issue price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Dechko Uzunov | 1899 | 8,000 | 18 leva (≈ €9.20) | €230 (2 listings) | × 25 |
| 2010 | Zahariy Zograf | 1810 | 6,000 | 18 leva (≈ €9.20) | €320 (3 listings) | × 35 |
| 2012 | Dimcho Debelyanov | 1887 | 5,000 | 18 leva (≈ €9.20) | €163 | × 18 |
| 2013 | Zlatyu Boyadzhiev | 1903 | 4,000 | 18 leva (≈ €9.20) | €105 (3 listings) | × 11 |
| 2013 | Apostol Karamitev | 1923 | 3,000 | 21 leva (≈ €10.74) | €225 (1 listing) | × 21 |
| 2016 | Pencho Slaveikov | 1866 | 2,000 | 18 leva (≈ €9.20) | €500 | × 54 |
| 2017 | Elin Pelin | 1877 | 2,000 | 18 leva (≈ €9.20) | €333 | × 36 |
| 2020 | Geo Milev | 1895 | 3,000 | 24 leva (≈ €12.27) | €240 | × 20 |
| 2021 | Panayot Pipkov | 1871 | 3,000 | 36 leva (≈ €18.41) | €360 (2 listings) | × 20 |
| 2022 | Stoyanka Mutafova | 1922 | 4,000 | 30 leva (≈ €15.34) | €420 | × 27 |
| 2023 | Dimitar Talev | 1898 | 7,000 | 54 leva (≈ €27.61) | €225 | × 8.1 |
| 2024 | Pancho Vladigerov | 1899 | 7,000 | 54 leva (≈ €27.61) | €275 (2 listings) | × 10 |
| 2025 | Georgi Partsalev | 1925 | 6,000 | 60 leva (≈ €30.68) | €97 (1 listing) | × 3.2 |
| 2026 | Krastyo Sarafov | 1876 | 6,000 | €36.00 | €50 (2 listings) | × 1.4 |
Market prices are medians of asking prices for ungraded coins on Balkan Auction as of 2 November 2026. Where there are fewer than four listings, the number is shown in brackets. The year of birth follows from the anniversary on the coin. Issue prices in leva are converted at 1.95583 leva per euro.
The painters
Dechko Uzunov (2009) opened the series. The reverse shows the painter’s image. Designer: Petar Stoikov. With 8,000 pieces it has the largest mintage in the series.
Zahariy Zograf (2010) shows a sculptural interpretation of Zograf’s self-portrait in the National Art Gallery. Designers: Simeon Krastev and Ivan Cholakov.
Zlatyu Boyadzhiev (2013) shows the painter against a palette. Designer: Vanya Dimitrova. With a median of about €105 it is the most affordable of the older coins in the series.
The writers and poets
Dimcho Debelyanov (2012) combines the poet’s portrait with his opening verse “Going back to your father’s house...”. Designer: Vanya Dimitrova.
Pencho Slaveikov (2016) shows the poet and his signature. Designer: Plamen Chernev, using a fragment of a joint project by Evgeniya Tsankova and Plamen Chernev. With a mintage of only 2,000 it is the most expensive coin in the series: a median of €500 across 8 listings, and two graded listings at €690.
Elin Pelin (2017) also has a mintage of 2,000. Beneath the portrait the name is written “Елинъ Пелинъ” in the old spelling. Designers: Plamen Chernev and Preslav Chernev.
Geo Milev (2020) shows the poet’s portrait and signature. Designers: Evgeniya Tsankova and Orlin Ivanov. With 7 listings it is one of the easiest coins in the series to find.
Dimitar Talev (2023) shows the writer above a stylised quill pen. Designer: Todor Angeliev.
The composers
Panayot Pipkov (2021) places the composer’s portrait on a violin silhouette. Designer: Vasilena Stancheva.
Pancho Vladigerov (2024) shows a portrait of the composer. Designer: Svetlin Balezdrov.
The actors
Apostol Karamitev (2013) has a mintage of 3,000 and an issue price of 21 leva. Designer: Biser Nedyalkov.
Stoyanka Mutafova (2022) is the only coin in the series dedicated to a woman. Designers: Elena Todorova and Todor Todorov. The median is €420, but listings range from €300 to €1,250.
Georgi Partsalev (2025) is the last coin in the series in leva. Designer: Mihaela Kamenova.
Krastyo Sarafov (2026) shows the actor against a cinefilm and theatre masks. Designers: Plamen Chernev and Preslav Chernev. More on the first euro coins is in The first year of Bulgarian euro coins.
What the prices show
The clearest link is with mintage. The two coins with 2,000 pieces – Pencho Slaveikov and Elin Pelin – have the highest medians (€500 and €333) and the largest multiples of their issue price (× 54 and × 36). The recent coins with 6,000–8,000 pieces still trade close to their issue price or at a modest premium.
The 13 issue prices in leva add up to 387 leva (≈ €197.87), or about €234 including Krastyo Sarafov. The listing medians for all 14 coins add up to about €3,540. Most coins have only two or three listings, however, so these figures are a guide rather than a valuation.
How to collect the series today
Krastyo Sarafov is still sold at the BNB cash desks for €36.00; as of 9 November 2026, 459 pieces were left. All older coins are available only on the secondary market. The hardest to find are Apostol Karamitev and Georgi Partsalev, with one active listing each. We will publish the next coins in the series in Upcoming coins as soon as the BNB announces them.
All coins in the series, with photos and current offers, are on the Bulgarian Artists series page. A similar guide to a silver series is The “Medieval Bulgarian Rulers” series. You can track the value of your own coins in My portfolio, and offers from other collectors are in the Bulgarian Coin Exchange. BulgarianCoins does not buy or sell coins, and this article is not investment advice.
Sources: the BulgarianCoins catalogue (BNB technical data), the BNB euro coins page (availability as of 9 November 2026) and market prices (Balkan Auction, 2 November 2026).
