Nobleman Lazar Vukovic Brankovic (Lord of Kosovo 1406-1410) struck with his older brother as Lord Djuradj Vukovic Brankovic (Lord of Kosovo 1402-1412, Despot 1427-1456)

Silver "4 lines" dinar. 18mm, 1.22g.

Obverse: Serbian legend In 4 lines: ГNЬ ГЮРГЬ HЛA3A PЬ (LORD DJURADJ AND LAZAR). Lilies on the bottom.

Reverse: Jesus Christ facing seating on the throne. Initials IC-XC (Jesus Christ). Lilies above the throne.

Reference: Jov (42-1, 39-1), I (44.1), Lj (XIII-26), D 292 1,2.

Comment: Lord of Kosovo, youngest son of Vuk Brankovic and a brother of Djuradj Vukovic Brankovic. Extremely rare coin and only known type issued by two brothers together. There is no known coin issued by Lazar alone. 

Grgur and Djuradj Brankovic, Vuk Brankovic eldest and middle son, both became Lords of Kosovo in 1402. The battle of Ankara or Angora (28 July 1402) was a major victory won by Tamerlane over the Ottoman Army of Sultan Bayezid that nearly destroyed the Ottoman Empire, and as a side-effect gave the Byzantine Empire another fifty years of life. Grgur takes part and gets captured after a battle and ransomed in 1403. After coming home he takes step back from politics and goes to Monastery in 1406 and dies in 1408. Djuradj and Lazar are taking rulership over their eldest brother and are minting this coin together which is also first coin Djuradj ever made. So date of this coin can possibly be pinpointed to 1406-1410. In the eve of the battle of Hadrianopolis in 1410 Lazar gets captured and executed. Djuradj survives defeating his brothers murderer and eventually becomes Despot of Raska 1427-1456.

There are only 8 registered examples including stars and crosses instead of lilies on the reverse.


Reference: #LVB01

Not For Sale

Estimated Value: 1000 - 1200 -1500

 
 

 

 

Djuradj Brankovic Master of Kosovo (1402-1412)

Silver "face" type. 17mm, 0.944g.

Serbian Kosovo issue most likely Novo Brdo mint.

Obverse: Large head of Djuradj in the middle. Serbian Cyrillic description: ✶ Г-О ✶ Рb ✶ Г ✶Ь (DJURADJ). 4 stars around.

Reverse: Christ standing in glory, surrounded by two pearl circles, blessing with his right hand and holding book of gospels decorated with a large X in his left hand. IC - XC (In Greek: Ιησούς Χριστός - Jesus Christ) to the sides in the middle.

Reference: Jov 42-3,J 42-5, LJ (XIII-11), I (45.4).

Comment: Extremely rare and beautiful early type of Djuradj Brankovic issued 1402-1412 when he was Master of Kosovo. Perfect untouched patina just what you want to see on medieval coins.
It was either issued while he shared rulership of Kosovo with his brother Lazar Brankovic 1406-1410 or in those couple years after his brothers death 1410-1412. There is a joint issue of Lazar and Djuradj, Jovanovic reference is Jov 42-1 and 39-1, Dimitrijevic D 292 1,2, my reference is Knezevic 427.

This type is therefore issued 15-20 years before he became despot in 1427.
At the beginning of the Ottoman conquest of the southern Serbian territories, in 1455, the Turks made a population census in Kosovo, which they, for an obvious reason, called "Branković Region" and recorded a majority Serbian population.
There is a variant with 4 lilies around instead of stars and a type with a lion in the middle instead of rulers large head, Jovanovic reference is Jov 42-4.

Description on the obverse begins on the top and goes in the shape of the cross, top down and left to right, Г-О Рb Г Ь (DJURADJ). It’s interesting to notice that Г-О supposed to be ГЮ what is the case on some types but here moneyer has decided to join those two letters together.
Image of Djuradj, I believe, is faithfully portrayed. Moneyer has done his best and succeeded in representing Djuradj the way he looked at the beginning of the 15th century, with his long curly hair and long beard, large eyes and strong cheek bones. A truly amazing work of art!

There are only 7 registered examples weight from 0.54g to 1.00g. With this one I know of 3 more and 1 sold on Rudnik website around 10-15 years ago so total known are 12.

Reference: #DJB63

Not For Sale

Estimated Value: 800 - 1200 - 1500

 

Djuradj Brankovic Master of Kosovo (1402-1412)

Silver "lion" type. 16mm, 0.9g.

Obverse: Lion rampant (heraldic symbol of the Brankovic family), Serbian legend +ГОСПОДНNЬ ГЮРГЬ (SIR GJURGJ) around

Reverse: Christ in glory, standing, facing and holding Gospels, IC - XC

Reference: J 119, Jov 42-3, LJ (XIII-6), I (45.2)

Comment: Rare early type that spells out title "Sir" or "Lord", omitting the more important rank of despot probably because this type was issued 1402-1412 when Djuradj was Master of Kosovo.

There are only 22 registered examples.

Reference: #DJB09

Not For Sale

Estimated Value: 100 - 150 - 200

 

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