A recent archaeological discovery in Bulgaria has shed new light on the lives of people living in the early years of Ottoman rule. During excavations at the village of Cherven, near the Danube River, a team from the Rousse Regional Museum of History unearthed a gold coin. This seemingly small find has significant implications, offering a glimpse into the wealth and complexities of the time.
The coin, believed to date back to the Byzantine Empire, exhibits distinctive features. One side depicts two figures, one of whom is adorned in the traditional attire of a Byzantine emperor. However, archaeologist Svetlana Velikova, leading the excavations, clarifies that such coins were also minted by the Latin Empire, established after the sacking of Constantinople in 1204. Studies suggest that the Latin Empire, rather than introducing a new currency, chose to imitate Byzantine coins, a practice that continued until Constantinople was recaptured in 1261.
Adding further intrigue, the coin’s weight deviates from its original form, suggesting a deliberate resizing to align with 14th-century standards for gold coins in the region. This, coupled with the coin’s location and the year of Cherven’s conquest by the Ottomans (1388), points to its potential origin within the first few years following the conquest.
Archaeologists have been exploring the ruins of Cherven for over a century, revealing its historical significance during the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396). In 1975, three similar gold coins were found nearby, indicating a possible acceptance of foreign currency by local rulers, potentially due to a lack of their own gold reserves.
The latest discovery, along with other artifacts like arrowheads, jewelry, and pottery fragments, was unearthed along a defensive wall on the western side of the medieval fortress at Cherven. This region was previously believed to be inhabited by a less affluent population, but the recent findings challenge that perception, suggesting that at least some residents possessed considerable wealth.
The Second Bulgarian Empire, a formidable power in the medieval Balkans, shared a tumultuous history with the Byzantine Empire. Both empires faced threats from the expanding Ottoman Empire, which had already conquered numerous former Byzantine territories. Bulgaria remained under Ottoman control for nearly five centuries after its conquest in 1396, and the Ottomans ultimately captured Constantinople in 1453.
