Ivan Vazov on a silver coin: 175 years since the birth of the patriarch of Bulgarian literature

The Bulgarian National Bank is releasing a new commemorative coin, “Ivan Vazov on a silver coin”, on sale from 7 July 2025.

Ivan Vazov (1850–1921) was born in Sopot. His novel “Under the Yoke” is the best-known work of Bulgarian fiction, and his work spans poetry, prose and drama. It was the second coin of the year in the Bulgarian Revival series, after Zahari Stoyanov.

The coin has a face value of 10 levs and is struck in Ag 999/1000, weighing 23.33 g with a diameter of 38.61 mm. Quality: proof, mint state; mintage: 4,000. It was minted by the Bulgarian Mint to a design by Svetlin Balezdrov.

Reverse: a portrait of Ivan Vazov; in circumference, an inscription ‘175 ГОДИНИ ОТ РОЖДЕНИЕТО НА ИВАН ВАЗОВ’ (175 years since the birth of Ivan Vazov), lyre-shaped laurel wreath with a book.

The issue price is 168 leva. The coins are sold at the BNB cash desks in Sofia and at branches of Investbank, First Investment Bank, Texim Bank, Tokuda Bank and Central Cooperative Bank. Each customer may buy only one coin at the BNB cash desks. Buying for someone else requires a notarised power of attorney, and coins are not sold to anyone under 18.

Full details are in the BulgarianCoins catalogue below; the official announcement is on the BNB website.