Thematic collecting: pick a theme instead of chasing everything
How to choose a theme, set its limits and build a collection that makes sense and fits a budget
BulgarianCoins editorial team 3 min read
Our catalogue has over 480 Bulgarian coins. Most collectors sooner or later realise that they cannot – and do not want to – collect everything. A thematic collection is the answer. It is cheaper, easier to arrange and tells a story.
What a theme is
A theme is what the coins in your collection have in common. It can be:
- A BNB series – for example “Medieval Rulers” or “Bulgarian Iconography”.
- A theme that runs across series – animals, ships, sport, writers.
- A period – only the Principality of Bulgaria or only the People’s Republic.
- A face value – for example all the 5 leva coins from 1884 to 1894.
- A metal – only silver or only gold.
A series has clear limits – the BNB sets them. A theme is yours – you decide what goes in.
How to choose a theme
Start from what interests you. History, sport, nature, religion? A collection that excites you will keep you going for years.
Check how many coins there are. Use the catalogue filters and the series and themes pages. A theme with 5–20 coins is ideal to start with.
Work out the budget. Open the coin pages and look at the market prices. If one coin is much more expensive than the rest, decide early whether to include it.
Ten ideas with a realistic budget
| Theme | Number of coins | Approximate budget |
|---|---|---|
| Animals | about 8 | €1,500–2,500 |
| Ships and the sea | 4 | €1,300–1,500 |
| Olympic Games – silver from the 1990s only | 8 | €400–800 |
| Medieval rulers | 8 | about €4,000 |
| Coloured coins | 9 | €3,000–4,000 |
| BNB anniversaries | 3 | under €1,000 |
| The April Uprising of 1876 – 100 years | 2 | under €100 |
| 5 leva of the Principality (1884–1894) | 4 years | €600–1,500 in good condition |
| Circulation coins of one period | 15–30 | €50–300 |
| The “1300 Years of Bulgaria” programme – copper-nickel only | over 20 | €100–300 |
The budgets are approximate and based on the medians of current listings on Balkan Auction as of 19.10.2026.
How to set the limits
Write down the rules of the collection. For example: “All BNB coins with animals, excluding circulation coins, proof only.” Clear rules protect you from impulse purchases and make the collection more valuable when you sell.
How to arrange and display
A thematic collection displays beautifully. Arrange the coins by story, not by year. Add short notes for each one. See How to display coins at home and How to catalogue your collection.
A theme can grow
A good theme has room to develop. If you start with the Olympic coins, you can later add the football coins, and then all the sports coins. If you start with icons, you can add the monasteries. The collection will grow together with your knowledge.
The advantage when selling
A complete thematic collection sells more easily than a random assortment. The buyer gets a ready-made story. See How to sell a collection at a fair price.
