COINS FROM “YUZHEN PARK - LOZENETS” ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE (4TH – 7TH CENTURY)
IN SOFIA
Bistra BOZHKOVA
(summary)
In 2000/01 archaeological excavations of a Late Roman and Early Byzantine architectural assemblages
were conducted in Lozenets neighborhood, in Sofia South park (Yuzhen park). Parts of two churches were
unearthed. Buildings and premises dated back to a later period than the churches were also revealed.
Judging by the finds, they were probably not cult buildings but were related to a pottery workshop, which
existed after the mid 6th century. The numismatic find, an impressive number of more than 2000 coins and
coin fragments, is worth mentioning among the various finds yielded by the site – architectural details,
pottery, bronze objects, etc.
The earliest coins date back to the 3rd century (4 pieces).
The time of the tetrarchy following Diocletian’s reform is represented by nummi of Costantius Chlorus
(1 piece) and Maximinus Daia (1 piece).
Coins of representatives of the Dynasty of Constantine (173 pieces) were also found. In view with the
considerable number of coins from this period, we assume that the architectural assemblage was already a
place of a great activity.
The reign of Valentinian’s dynasty is evidenced by 147 coins. A siliqua of Valentinian II was found
among them.
Between Theodosius I coming to the throne in 379 and the death of Marcian, there was a period of
especially intensive coin circulation, revealed by ca. 700 pieces. We could suggest that it was the time of
the greatest activity at the site attracting big number of coins.
Since the reign of Constantine I and his successors Serdica turned into an important Christian center,
famous for its numerous churches, which added some more glamour/prestige/status to the city. The bishop
of Serdica had his reputation and position in the church hierarchy. Probably the Early Christian assemblage
in “Yuzhen park - Lozenets” was one of the main Christian centers of the city and was a place attracting
numerous pilgrims. We could assume the active coin circulation evidenced at the site as a proof for it.
The second half of the 5th century is present by the coins of Leo I (21 pieces). There are no coins
identified from the period following Leo’s death in 474 until the beginning of Anastasius’s reign – 491.
This abrupt fall of the coin circulation in the second half of the 5th century suggests that the intensive
activity of the Early Christian architectural assemblage was dying away.
6th century marked a new stage in the assemblage development, which according to the archaeological
evidence, was related to pottery making activity. The numismatic finds are represented by the copper coins
of the emperors Justin I (5 pieces), Justinian І (28 pieces), Justin ІІ (10 pieces) and Maurice Tiberius (6
pieces). There are finds of coins of Phocas (18 pieces) and Heraclius (7 pieces) which date back to the early
7th century.
Six collective finds are also part of the numismatic materials. The earliest pieces of two of them belong
to the same period – 408/423. Another collective find consists of Early Byzantine coins and contains a
mixture of coins. It is not possible to identify the earliest coins because its averse is defaced; its reverse is
dated to the reign either of Justin I (518-527) or Justinian І (527-538). The latest coin was struck in 615/617
during the reign of Heraclius.
The study on the coins found during various archaeological excavations in Serdica and are currently
part of the collection of the Museum of the History of Sofia indicates that the most intensive coin
circulation happened between the reigns of Constantine I and Constantius II. The coin circulation was quite
intensive during the reigns of Valentinian’s and Theodosius’s dynasties as well. There are also coins from
the 6th and early 7th centuries. The coins of Phocas have been certainly identified but there is no data on
the coins of Heracleus. Therefore the coins found during the archaeological investigation in Lozenets
neighborhood define more precisely the time limit of the coin circulation in Serdica during the Early
Byzantine period and provide indirect evidence of events, which affected not only the architectural
assemblage in Lozenets but also the city of Serdica itself.