- Silver .925
100 Years National Academy of Arts
1996 · 500 leva · Bulgarian National Bank
Specifications
- Metal
- Silver 925/1000
- Weight
- 10 g
- Fine silver content
- 9.25 g (0.2974 oz t)
- Diameter
- 30 mm
- Quality
- Proof, mint state
- Official mintage
- 30,000
- Year of issue
- 1996
- Series
- Individual issue
- Designer
- Plamen Vulchev
- Minted by
- Sofia, Bulgaria
- Catalogue no.
- BC-1996-01
- Issue price
- 3,506.80 лв
- pre-1999 lev · BNB, 1996
- Market value (asking prices)
- €58.89
- median asking price of 3 listings, €54.89 – €62.89 · Balkan Auction, 19 Oct 2026
- Melt value
- €15.08
- Ag spot €50.70/oz · Oct 2026
605 available at BNB counters at €38.52 (BNB register, Oct 2026)
Market prices – asking prices
Asking prices on Balkan Auction, 19 Oct 2026
- Ungraded coins
- €54.89 – €62.89
- median asking price €58.89 · 3 listings
Sample listings
Asking prices of active listings (fixed price, starting price or current highest bid) in the public coin category of Balkan Auction. These are asking prices, not completed sales. Lots, sets, replicas, error varieties and precious-metal prices below the metal value are excluded. BulgarianCoins does not buy, sell or value coins.
Relative rarity
5/10 · Scarce
How we calculate it
The score starts from the mintage on a logarithmic scale (500 coins or fewer = 10, ten million = 1). Coins of the Principality and the Kingdom that circulated get extra points, because much of that silver and gold was melted down and many coins were lost in the wars and withdrawn in 1952. Modern commemorative coins lose a point, since almost all of them survive in collections. Finally we look at how often the coin is offered on Balkan Auction: frequent offers lower the score.
Bulgarian Coin Exchange · Beta
Own this coin? Sell it at auction or at a fixed price to other collectors on the Bulgarian Coin Exchange. We do not buy or sell coins ourselves.
Obverse
The obverse features the centrally placed nominal value number ‘500’, with the word ‘ЛЕВА’ (levs) and the year of issue ‘1996’ below. Above, on two lines, is the inscription ‘РЕПУБЛИКА БЪЛГАРИЯ’ (Republic of Bulgaria). The composition is framed by a stylised wreath of roses, tied with a ribbon.
Reverse
The reverse of the coin depicts a colour palette, with the building of the National Academy of Arts and the words ‘100 години’ (100 years) on it. Two paintbrushes pierce the last zero of the number ‘100’. The words ‘НАЦИОНАЛНА ХУДОЖЕСТВЕНА АКАДЕМИЯ’ (National Academy of Arts) go as a circumscription.
Edge & packaging
Flat edge. Issued in a protective capsule with an information leaflet. The BNB advises keeping the capsule closed.
About this coin
100 Years National Academy of Arts
A 500 leva silver coin issued by the Bulgarian National Bank in 1996. 30,000 pieces were minted in Sofia, Bulgaria, to a design by Plamen Vulchev.
Sources: BNB coin page · BNB register and prices · market listing 1
