Bulgarian Gold Plated Sevt III Coin issued on 5 May 2008

A press conference is held today, May 17 at BNB dedicated to the coins presentation by Tzvetan Manchev, Depute Director of BNB. The bronze cast of the head of Trakyas ruler Seft III will also be displayed at BNB. The head is a unique archaeological find discovered in 2004 by the famous Bulgarian archaeologist Doctor Georgi Kitov. Kitov is also among the presentations participants.

The head of the coin displays BNBs symbol and the year 1869 as well as the coins nominal value of 10 BGN. 'Bulgarian National Bank' and the emission year 2008 are written around the perimeter of the coins head. The head of the Thracian King Seft III is represented on the cons tale with the words 'The Treasures of Bulgaria' written on the perimeter and 'Seft III' below the Kings head.

The coin will be sold by BNB for 69 BGN and its circulation will be 8000 coins. The Thracian Tomb near Kazanluk is one of the biggest and the richest archaeological discoveries on Bulgarian territory. In 2004, Kitovs team discovered 70 unique gold, silver and bronze objects there. The bronze head of Seft III is a unique work of art from Ancient Greece. It represents a bearded man with eyes carved from semi-precious stones.

The head has been broken from a statue and hidden under a pile of stones. Some specialists, analysing the craftsmanship style believe that the statue is the work of the famous Athens sculptor Fidii or of one of his students. Georgi Kitov himself considers the face more beautiful then the one of Rodins 'Thinker' because it is so perfect and shows so much thought that it is. The obverse of the coin features the logo of the Bulgarian National Bank in the inner circle, with the year 1879 written on the ribbon and the nominal value of the coin 10 (10 levs).

In circumference in the outer circle is the wording " " and the year of issue "2008". The reverse of the coin features the image of the broze head of the Thracian king Sevt III found in 2004 near Kazanlak. In circumference in the outer circle there is the text ߔ (BULGARIAS TREASURES) and below it (SEVT III). TECHNICAL FEATURES nominal value: BGN 10 metal : silver, purity 999/1000 with partial gold plating on the outer circle on both sides of the coin issue : 2008 quality: proof weight: 20 g diameter: 40 mm edge: smooth mintage: 8,000

This article first appeared on BulgarianCoins.com on 14 May 2008.