Bulgaria 1970 5 leva
This specimen was lot 73252 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2022), where it sold for $80. The catalog description[1] noted, "BULGARIA. 5 Leva, 1970. Sofia Mint. PCGS PROOF-67 Deep Cameo. Commemorating the 120th Anniversary of the Birth of Ivan Vazov. This Superb-Gem proof offers a striking remembrance of the famous poet, with much frosting present on the devices and fields." This is the first in a series of silver NCLT's struck to this module.
Wikipedia comments, "Ivan Minchov Vazov (Bulgarian: Иван Минчов Вазов; 1850–1921) was a Bulgarian poet, novelist and playwright, often referred to as "the Patriarch of Bulgarian literature". He was born in Sopot, a town in the Rose Valley of Bulgaria (then part of the Ottoman Empire). Ivan Vazov holds the highest honorary title of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Academician. He acted as Education and People Enlightenment Minister from September 7, 1897, until January 30, 1899, representing the People's Party."
Recorded mintage: 370,000 + 109,700 proofs.
Specification: 20.5 g, 0.900 fine silver, 36 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-78.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The February 2022 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients & World Coins, Featuring Selections from the Kings Norton Mint Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
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