Two saints already represented on Bulgarian currency to be featured on the country's euro coins

Bulgaria aims to join the euro in 2025 and has created the design for the new money to be issued. The country’s euro coins will feature saints that are already depicted on the national currency leva. It is unique in the EU for saints to be represented on widely circulated coins.

The Bulgarian 2-euro coin will feature Saint Paisius of Chilandar (1722-1773), an Athonite monk of Bulgarian origin who contributed to the historiography and consolidation of Bulgarian national identity. The saint was also depicted on the obverse of the 2 leva banknotes issued by the Bulgarian National Bank in 1999 and 2005.

Another saint, already present on the Bulgarian national 1 leva coins issued in the 2000s, will also be found on the 1 euro coins: St John of Rila, the founder of Bulgarian monasticism (lived between 876 and 946).

The design of the 0.10, 0.20 and 0.50 euro coins to be issued after Bulgaria accedes to the euro. Photo: Bulgarian National Bank

The 10, 20 and 50 euro cent coins to be issued in Bulgaria will feature the Madara Rider, a life-sized horseman bas-relief made at the end of the first Christian millennium on the rocks of Madara, Bulgaria. The design is also featured on the 0.50 leva coins in circulation.

There are still coins with saints on them issued in the Eurozone, but one circulates in a non-EU member state and the other is a commemorative coin, not for regular money circulation.

The 1 euro coin issued by the Republic of San Marino in 2017 depicts the country’s spiritual patron, a Christian martyr from the early centuries. Saint Marin was also depicted on coins issued in 2008. Photo: European Commission

Thus, two of the coins issued in 2017 in San Marino, a micro-state surrounded by Italy and which has joined the euro, although it is not part of the EU, depict St. Marin, a Dalmatian monk martyred at Monte Titano around 300.

St. Marin, the spiritual patron of the Republic of San Marino, is depicted with a halo on one of the 50 euro cent coins that this non-EU member state has issued. Photo source: Coin-brothers.com

Slovakia issued an anniversary coin dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius in 2012 to mark the 1150th anniversary of the Christianisation of Moravia.

St. Cyril and Methodius, who brought Christian faith to Moravia, on a commemorative euro coin issued by Slovakia. They originally had an aura, but several EU member countries objected and the coin was reissued with the aura removed but the cross prominently featured. Photo source: Euractiv

Eurozone countries can include national symbols on one side of the euro they issue, provided the other member countries and the Council of the European Union agree. The euro coins designed by Bulgaria have already received these approvals.

Photo credit: Bulgarian National Bank (article opening)