Item number: A1885

Year: AD 1934

Material: Silver

Size: 33.9 x 33.9 x 2.5 mm

Weight: 19.9 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2015

This is a 100 Leva silver coin circulated in the Kingdom of Bulgaria between AD 1934 and AD 1937.

The obverse of the coin features a left-facing portrait of Boris III, the reigning Tsar of Bulgaria at the time. Below the portrait on the right is the designer’s signature, “PM,” representing the British engraver, Percy Metcalfe. The Bulgarian inscription on either side of the portrait reads “БОРИСЪ III ЦАРЬ на БЪЛГАРИТѢ” (Boris III, Tsar of the Bulgarians).

The reverse of the coin features a decorative motif along the lower edge, consisting of rose branches, representing Bulgaria’s national flower. Flanking the roses on either side are two upright wheat stalks. The upper edge of the coin displays the denomination “100 ЛЕВА” (100 Leva), while the centre prominently bears the year of issuance, “1934.” The coin’s edge is inscribed with the phrase “БОЖЕ ПАЗИ БЪЛГАРИЯ” (God Protect Bulgaria).

On October 3, AD 1918, following Bulgaria’s defeat in World War I, Tsar Ferdinand I was forced to abdicate under pressure from the Allied Powers, transferring the throne to his 24-year-old son, Boris III. However, upon his accession, Boris III faced significant political constraints, particularly from right-wing factions and the military. It was not until AD 1935 that he successfully consolidated power by exploiting internal divisions within the army, establishing a royal autocracy.

In AD 1940, under pressure from Nazi Germany, Boris III abandoned Bulgaria’s neutrality and aligned the country with the Axis Powers. By cooperating with German military operations in the Balkans, Bulgaria managed to reclaim several territories lost after World War I. However, Boris III carefully manoeuvred to keep Bulgaria from direct involvement in Germany’s war against the Soviet Union.

In August AD 1943, Boris III travelled to Germany at Hitler’s invitation. During the visit, he once again refused Hitler’s demand to commit Bulgarian troops to the Eastern Front. Shortly after returning to Bulgaria, he fell ill and passed away on August 28 of the same year. Rumours circulated that his death was linked to Nazi Germany, though no definitive evidence has been established.

物件編號: A1885

年代: 公元 1934 年

材質: 銀

尺寸: 33.9 x 33.9 x 2.5 mm

重量: 19.9 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

這是一枚公元1934至1937年，東歐的保加利亞王國流通之面額100列瓦銀幣。

硬幣正面是時任保加利亞沙皇的鮑里斯三世左側肖像，肖像右下角是負責設計的英國雕刻家珀西·梅特卡夫姓名戳記「PM」。硬幣左右兩側的保加利亞銘文是沙皇名諱和頭銜「БОРИСЪ III ЦАРЬ на БЪЛГАРИТѢ」(鮑里斯三世 保加利亞沙皇)。

硬幣背面的下緣以保加利亞的國花玫瑰枝條作為裝飾，玫瑰花的左右兩側各有一株矗立的麥穗。硬幣上緣標示面額「100 ЛЕВА」(100列瓦)，正中央則是發行的年份「1934」。硬幣側邊打印銘文「БОЖЕ ПАЗИ БЪЛГАРИЯ」(上帝庇佑保加利亞)。

公元1918年10月3日，作為第一次世界大戰戰敗方的保加利亞在協約國的要求下，沙皇斐迪南一世被迫讓位予年僅24歲的長子，即鮑里斯三世。然而鮑里斯三世登基之初，內政上受到右派和軍官的牽制，直到公元1935年方才利用軍隊內部的矛盾成功掌權推行君主專制。公元1940年，鮑里斯三世在納粹德國的施壓下放棄中立加入軸心國，並且藉由配合德國在巴爾幹半島的軍事行動收復不少第一次世界大戰喪失的失土，同時鮑里斯三世也設法避免捲入德國對蘇聯的戰事之中。公元1943年8月，鮑里斯三世應希特勒邀請參訪德國，期間鮑里斯三世再度拒絕希特勒出兵蘇聯的要求，然而鮑里斯三世歸國後感到身體不適旋即在當月28日駕崩，坊間流傳納粹德國和沙皇的死亡有關。