site.btaRare Byzantine Gold Coin Found near Sevlievo

Excavating an early Byzantine and medieval castle near Sevlievo, known as Hotalich, archaeologists under Nadezhda Boteva have found a valuable Byzantine gold coin, Sevlievo History Museum Director Iveta Milenova said on Wednesday.

The coin is a tremissis (the smallest Byzantine gold currency denomination). It is made of 22-23k fine gold, measures 18 mm in diameter, and weighs 1.5 grammes. The gold piece was minted in Constantinople. The obverse portrays Eastern Roman Emperor Justin II (reigned AD 565-578), wearing a diadem and body armour, Milenova explained. The reverse shows the Goddess of Victory, with her head turned left, holding a wreath and an orb.

The archaeological exploration of the Hotalich Castle has been going on for 46 years now. In the 1980s the excavations yielded three gold coins, which are kept at the History Museum. This coming October, the Justin tremissis will also be exhibited there.

The castle citadel occupies over 1.5 hectares. Hundreds of metres of fortress walls, five gates, massive defensive towers, a bolyar church and a dwelling have been uncovered so far there. Nearly 100 residential and artisan buildings, three churches and defensive walls have been found in the 5 hectare outer city. In 1994 the site was listed as immovable cultural property of national importance, Milenova told BTA.