Bulgarian coins by period

Catalogue by ruler and institutional era

Alexander I (1879–1886)	Ferdinand I (1887–1918)	Boris III (1918–1943)	People’s Republic (1946–1990)	Republic of Bulgaria (since 1990)

Bulgarian coins are arranged by ruler and institutional era. Reforms of the lev are distinguished from reign dates and coin-type dates.

Alexander I (1879–1886)

The earliest national issues in the catalogue belong to Alexander I. Bronze stotinki and silver denominations illustrate the first lev system, introduced in 1881.

2 stotinki Bronze 1881 Alexander I	5 stotinki Bronze 1881 Alexander I	10 stotinki Bronze 1881 Alexander I	50 stotinki Silver 0.835 1883 Alexander I	1 lev Silver 0.835 1882 Alexander I

2 leva Silver 0.835 1882 Alexander I	5 leva Silver 0.900 1884–1885 Alexander I

Type specifications and sources

2 stotinki · 1881

First lev 1881–1952; Bronze; diameter 20 mm; weight 2 g. Numista N27033

5 stotinki · 1881

First lev 1881–1952; Bronze; diameter 24.98 mm; weight 4.57 g. Numista N8869

10 stotinki · 1881

First lev 1881–1952; Bronze; diameter 30 mm; weight 10 g. Numista N3788

50 stotinki · 1883

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.835; diameter 18 mm; weight 2.5 g. Numista N17104

1 lev · 1882

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.835; diameter 23 mm; weight 5 g. Numista N17028

2 leva · 1882

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.835; diameter 27 mm; weight 10 g. Numista N27354

5 leva · 1884–1885

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.900; diameter 37 mm; weight 25 g. Numista N18110

Ferdinand I (1887–1918)

Ferdinand I was prince until 1908 and then tsar until 1918. Types spanning the transition from principality to kingdom remain together; dates of individual issues appear in the captions. These coins belong to the first lev.

1 stotinka Bronze 1901 Ferdinand I	1 stotinka Bronze 1912 Ferdinand I	2 stotinki Bronze 1901 Ferdinand I	2 stotinki Bronze 1912 Ferdinand I	2½ stotinki Copper-nickel 1888 Ferdinand I

5 stotinki Copper-nickel 1888 Ferdinand I	5 stotinki Copper-nickel 1906–1913 Ferdinand I	5 stotinki Zinc 1917 Ferdinand I	10 stotinki Copper-nickel 1888 Ferdinand I	10 stotinki Copper-nickel 1906–1913 Ferdinand I

10 stotinki Zinc 1917 Ferdinand I	20 stotinki Copper-nickel 1888 Ferdinand I	20 stotinki Copper-nickel 1906–1913 Ferdinand I	20 stotinki Zinc 1917 Ferdinand I	50 stotinki Silver 0.835 1891 Ferdinand I

50 stotinki Silver 0.835 1910 Ferdinand I	50 stotinki Silver 0.835 1912–1916 Ferdinand I	1 lev Silver 0.835 1891–1894 Ferdinand I	1 lev Silver 0.835 1910 Ferdinand I	1 lev Silver 0.835 1912–1916 Ferdinand I

2 leva Silver 0.835 1891–1894 Ferdinand I	2 leva Silver 0.835 1910 Ferdinand I	2 leva Silver 0.835 1912–1916 Ferdinand I	5 leva Silver 0.900 1892–1894 Ferdinand I	10 leva Gold 0.900 1894 Ferdinand I

20 leva Gold 0.900 1894 Ferdinand I	100 leva Gold 0.900 1894 Ferdinand I

Type specifications and sources

1 stotinka · 1901

First lev 1881–1952; Bronze; diameter 15 mm; weight 1 g. Numista N126032

1 stotinka · 1912

First lev 1881–1952; Bronze; diameter 15 mm; weight 1 g. Numista N12339

2 stotinki · 1901

First lev 1881–1952; Bronze; diameter 20.14 mm; weight 2.01 g. Numista N126028

2 stotinki · 1912

First lev 1881–1952; Bronze; diameter 20 mm; weight 2 g. Numista N11053

2½ stotinki · 1888

First lev 1881–1952; Copper-nickel; diameter 15.35 mm; weight 1.98 g. Numista N22489

5 stotinki · 1888

First lev 1881–1952; Copper-nickel; diameter 17.05 mm; weight 2.86 g. Numista N23588

5 stotinki · 1906–1913

First lev 1881–1952; Copper-nickel; diameter 17 mm; weight 3 g. Numista N4678

5 stotinki · 1917

First lev 1881–1952; Zinc; diameter 17 mm; weight 2.06 g. Numista N10218

10 stotinki · 1888

First lev 1881–1952; Copper-nickel; diameter 19.2 mm; weight 3.87 g. Numista N15659

10 stotinki · 1906–1913

First lev 1881–1952; Copper-nickel; diameter 19 mm; weight 4 g. Numista N4120

10 stotinki · 1917

First lev 1881–1952; Zinc; diameter 19 mm; weight 3 g. Numista N10219

20 stotinki · 1888

First lev 1881–1952; Copper-nickel; diameter 20.9 mm; weight 4.8 g. Numista N15543

20 stotinki · 1906–1913

First lev 1881–1952; Copper-nickel; diameter 21 mm; weight 5 g. Numista N4737

20 stotinki · 1917

First lev 1881–1952; Zinc; diameter 21.2 mm; weight 4.05 g. Numista N10220

50 stotinki · 1891

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.835; diameter 18 mm; weight 2.5 g. Numista N32251

50 stotinki · 1910

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.835; diameter 18 mm; weight 2.5 g. Numista N12340

50 stotinki · 1912–1916

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.835; diameter 18 mm; weight 2.5 g. Numista N12341

1 lev · 1891–1894

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.835; diameter 23 mm; weight 5 g. Numista N18434 Numista N18361

1 lev · 1910

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.835; diameter 23 mm; weight 5 g. Numista N12344

1 lev · 1912–1916

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.835; diameter 23 mm; weight 5 g. Numista N12345

2 leva · 1891–1894

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.835; diameter 27 mm; weight 10 g. Numista N18355 Numista N18358

2 leva · 1910

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.835; diameter 27 mm; weight 10 g. Numista N34002

2 leva · 1912–1916

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.835; diameter 27 mm; weight 10 g. Numista N12364

5 leva · 1892–1894

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.900; diameter 37 mm; weight 25 g. Numista N32250 Numista N17712

10 leva · 1894

First lev 1881–1952; Gold 0.900; diameter 19 mm; weight 3.23 g. Numista N51830

20 leva · 1894

First lev 1881–1952; Gold 0.900; diameter 21.5 mm; weight 6.4516 g. Numista N49771

100 leva · 1894

First lev 1881–1952; Gold 0.900; diameter 35 mm; weight 32.26 g. Numista N51831

Boris III (1918–1943)

Issues attributed to Boris III include several metals, from the series of the 1920s to issues dated 1943. The date 1943 alone does not automatically attribute a coin to Simeon II: the classification of the type in the catalogue sources is retained. The current inventory contains no separate types attributed to Simeon II.

50 stotinki Aluminium bronze 1937 Boris III	1 lev Aluminium 1923 Boris III	1 lev Copper-nickel 1925 Boris III	1 lev Iron 1941 Boris III	2 leva Aluminium bronze 1923 Boris III

2 leva Copper-nickel 1925 Boris III	2 leva Iron 1941 Boris III	2 leva Iron 1943 Boris III	5 leva Copper-nickel 1930 Boris III	5 leva Iron 1941 Boris III

5 leva Nickel-clad steel 1943 Boris III	10 leva Copper-nickel 1930 Boris III	10 leva Iron 1941 Boris III	10 leva Nickel-clad steel 1943 Boris III	20 leva Silver 0.500 1930 Boris III

20 leva Copper-nickel 1940 Boris III	50 leva Silver 0.500 1930 Boris III	50 leva Silver 0.500 1934 Boris III	50 leva Copper-nickel 1940 Boris III	50 leva Nickel-plated steel 1943 Boris III

100 leva Silver 0.500 1930 Boris III	100 leva Silver 0.500 1934–1937 Boris III

Type specifications and sources

50 stotinki · 1937

First lev 1881–1952; Aluminium bronze; diameter 18.2 mm; weight 2.1 g. Numista N7777

1 lev · 1923

First lev 1881–1952; Aluminium; diameter 23 mm; weight 1.52 g. Numista N12346

1 lev · 1925

First lev 1881–1952; Copper-nickel; diameter 20 mm; weight 3 g. Numista N4738

1 lev · 1941

First lev 1881–1952; Iron; diameter 20 mm; weight 3 g. Numista N10221

2 leva · 1923

First lev 1881–1952; Aluminium bronze; diameter 27 mm; weight 2.5 g. Numista N33596

2 leva · 1925

First lev 1881–1952; Copper-nickel; diameter 23 mm; weight 5 g. Numista N7702

2 leva · 1941

First lev 1881–1952; Iron; diameter 23 mm; weight 5 g. Numista N12363

2 leva · 1943

First lev 1881–1952; Iron; diameter 23 mm; weight 5 g. Numista N12362

5 leva · 1930

First lev 1881–1952; Copper-nickel; diameter 26.13 mm; weight 7.75 g. Numista N6445

5 leva · 1941

First lev 1881–1952; Iron; diameter 26 mm; weight 9 g. Numista N17105

5 leva · 1943

First lev 1881–1952; Nickel-clad steel; diameter 26 mm; weight 9 g. Numista N17106

10 leva · 1930

First lev 1881–1952; Copper-nickel; diameter 30 mm; weight 11 g. Numista N8787

10 leva · 1941

First lev 1881–1952; Iron; diameter 30 mm; weight 12 g. Numista N34003

10 leva · 1943

First lev 1881–1952; Nickel-clad steel; diameter 30 mm; weight 10.9 g. Numista N6446

20 leva · 1930

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.500; diameter 21 mm; weight 4 g. Numista N12380

20 leva · 1940

First lev 1881–1952; Copper-nickel; diameter 21 mm; weight 4 g. Numista N7881

50 leva · 1930

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.500; diameter 27 mm; weight 10 g. Numista N12381

50 leva · 1934

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.500; diameter 27 mm; weight 10 g. Numista N10119

50 leva · 1940

First lev 1881–1952; Copper-nickel; diameter 27 mm; weight 10 g. Numista N6448

50 leva · 1943

First lev 1881–1952; Nickel-plated steel; diameter 27 mm; weight 9.87 g. Numista N12382

100 leva · 1930

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.500; diameter 34 mm; weight 20 g. Numista N12383

100 leva · 1934–1937

First lev 1881–1952; Silver 0.500; diameter 34 mm; weight 20 g. Numista N6450

People’s Republic (1946–1990)

The People’s Republic series include issues dated 1951 and those of the systems reformed in 1952 and 1962. Institutional era and monetary reform are distinct information. Types with date ranges ending in 1990 remain together, without creating additional variants.

1 stotinka Brass 1951 People’s Republic	1 stotinka Bronze 1962–1970 People’s Republic	1 stotinka Brass 1974–1990 People’s Republic	2 stotinki Bronze 1962 People’s Republic	2 stotinki Brass 1974–1990 People’s Republic

3 stotinki Brass 1951 People’s Republic	5 stotinki Brass 1951 People’s Republic	5 stotinki Brass 1962 People’s Republic	5 stotinki Brass 1974–1990 People’s Republic	10 stotinki Copper-nickel 1951 People’s Republic

10 stotinki Nickel brass 1962 People’s Republic	10 stotinki Copper-nickel 1974–1990 People’s Republic	20 stotinki Copper-nickel 1952–1954 People’s Republic	20 stotinki Nickel brass 1962 People’s Republic	20 stotinki Aluminium-nickel bronze 1974–1990 People’s Republic

25 stotinki Copper-nickel 1951 People’s Republic	50 stotinki Copper-nickel 1959 People’s Republic	50 stotinki Copper-nickel 1962 People’s Republic	50 stotinki Nickel brass 1974–1990 People’s Republic	1 lev Copper-nickel 1960 People’s Republic

1 lev Copper-nickel 1962 People’s Republic	1 lev Nickel brass 1979–1990 People’s Republic

Type specifications and sources

1 stotinka · 1951

Second lev 1952–1962; Brass; diameter 15.18 mm; weight 1 g. Numista N5363

1 stotinka · 1962–1970

Third lev 1962–1999; Bronze; diameter 15 mm; weight 1 g. Numista N4916

1 stotinka · 1974–1990

Third lev 1962–1999; Brass; diameter 15 mm; weight 1 g. Numista N1986

2 stotinki · 1962

Third lev 1962–1999; Bronze; diameter 18 mm; weight 2 g. Numista N842

2 stotinki · 1974–1990

Third lev 1962–1999; Brass; diameter 18.1 mm; weight 2 g. Numista N1984

3 stotinki · 1951

Second lev 1952–1962; Brass; diameter 19.8 mm; weight 2.4 g. Numista N6674

5 stotinki · 1951

Second lev 1952–1962; Brass; diameter 22 mm; weight 3.1 g. Numista N8035

5 stotinki · 1962

Third lev 1962–1999; Brass; diameter 22 mm; weight 3 g. Numista N3762

5 stotinki · 1974–1990

Third lev 1962–1999; Brass; diameter 22 mm; weight 3.1 g. Numista N841

10 stotinki · 1951

Second lev 1952–1962; Copper-nickel; diameter 17 mm; weight 1.8 g. Numista N6803

10 stotinki · 1962

Third lev 1962–1999; Nickel brass; diameter 17 mm; weight 1.6 g. Numista N840

10 stotinki · 1974–1990

Third lev 1962–1999; Copper-nickel; diameter 17 mm; weight 1.6 g. Numista N1983

20 stotinki · 1952–1954

Second lev 1952–1962; Copper-nickel; diameter 21 mm; weight 3 g. Numista N3506

20 stotinki · 1962

Third lev 1962–1999; Nickel brass; diameter 21.2 mm; weight 2.85 g. Numista N3381

20 stotinki · 1974–1990

Third lev 1962–1999; Aluminium-nickel bronze; diameter 21.2 mm; weight 3.1 g. Numista N1985

25 stotinki · 1951

Second lev 1952–1962; Copper-nickel; diameter 22 mm; weight 3.5 g. Numista N10121

50 stotinki · 1959

Second lev 1952–1962; Copper-nickel; diameter 23 mm; weight 3.8 g. Numista N10122

50 stotinki · 1962

Third lev 1962–1999; Copper-nickel; diameter 23 mm; weight 4 g. Numista N4739

50 stotinki · 1974–1990

Third lev 1962–1999; Nickel brass; diameter 23.3 mm; weight 4 g. Numista N4029

1 lev · 1960

Second lev 1952–1962; Copper-nickel; diameter 25 mm; weight 5.1 g. Numista N7778

1 lev · 1962

Third lev 1962–1999; Copper-nickel; diameter 25 mm; weight 4.8 g. Numista N6442

1 lev · 1979–1990

Third lev 1962–1999; Nickel brass; diameter 25.2 mm; weight 4.1 g. Numista N12359

Republic of Bulgaria (since 1990)

Republican issues of the 1990s precede the 1999 redenomination. The catalogue distinguishes the third and fourth lev in the type specifications. The last national coins precede the adoption of the euro in 2026.

1 stotinka Aluminium bronze 1999 Republic of Bulgaria	1 stotinka Bronze-plated steel 2000–2002 Republic of Bulgaria	2 stotinki Aluminium bronze 1999 Republic of Bulgaria	2 stotinki Bronze-plated steel 2000–2002 Republic of Bulgaria	5 stotinki Aluminium bronze 1999 Republic of Bulgaria

5 stotinki Bronze-plated steel 2000–2002 Republic of Bulgaria	10 stotinki Nickel brass 1992 Republic of Bulgaria	10 stotinki Nickel brass 1999–2002 Republic of Bulgaria	20 stotinki Nickel brass 1992 Republic of Bulgaria	20 stotinki Nickel brass 1999–2002 Republic of Bulgaria

50 stotinki Nickel brass 1992 Republic of Bulgaria	50 stotinki Nickel brass 1999–2002 Republic of Bulgaria	1 lev Nickel brass 1992 Republic of Bulgaria	1 lev Bimetallic: copper-nickel centre, brass ring 2002 Republic of Bulgaria	2 leva Nickel brass 1992 Republic of Bulgaria

2 leva Bimetallic: nickel-brass centre, copper-nickel ring 2015 Republic of Bulgaria	5 leva Nickel brass 1992 Republic of Bulgaria	10 leva Copper-nickel 1992 Republic of Bulgaria	10 leva Brass 1997 Republic of Bulgaria	20 leva Brass 1997 Republic of Bulgaria

50 leva Brass 1997 Republic of Bulgaria

Type specifications and sources

1 stotinka · 1999

Fourth lev 1999–2025; Aluminium bronze; diameter 16 mm; weight 1.77 g. Numista N5366

1 stotinka · 2000–2002

Fourth lev 1999–2025; Bronze-plated steel; diameter 16 mm; weight 1.8 g. Numista N28610

2 stotinki · 1999

Fourth lev 1999–2025; Aluminium bronze; diameter 18 mm; weight 2.5 g. Numista N5367

2 stotinki · 2000–2002

Fourth lev 1999–2025; Bronze-plated steel; diameter 18 mm; weight 2.5 g. Numista N28608

5 stotinki · 1999

Fourth lev 1999–2025; Aluminium bronze; diameter 20.1 mm; weight 3.5 g. Numista N1982

5 stotinki · 2000–2002

Fourth lev 1999–2025; Bronze-plated steel; diameter 20 mm; weight 3.5 g. Numista N28611

10 stotinki · 1992

Third lev 1962–1999; Nickel brass; diameter 17.2 mm; weight 1.6 g. Numista N7875

10 stotinki · 1999–2002

Fourth lev 1999–2025; Nickel brass; diameter 18.4 mm; weight 3 g. Numista N2375

20 stotinki · 1992

Third lev 1962–1999; Nickel brass; diameter 19.2 mm; weight 2 g. Numista N7876

20 stotinki · 1999–2002

Fourth lev 1999–2025; Nickel brass; diameter 20.5 mm; weight 4 g. Numista N2376

50 stotinki · 1992

Third lev 1962–1999; Nickel brass; diameter 21.2 mm; weight 3 g. Numista N8789

50 stotinki · 1999–2002

Fourth lev 1999–2025; Nickel brass; diameter 22.4 mm; weight 4.9 g. Numista N2377

1 lev · 1992

Third lev 1962–1999; Nickel brass; diameter 23.2 mm; weight 4 g. Numista N5364

1 lev · 2002

Fourth lev 1999–2025; Bimetallic: copper-nickel centre, brass ring; diameter 24.5 mm; weight 7 g. Numista N5109

2 leva · 1992

Third lev 1962–1999; Nickel brass; diameter 25.2 mm; weight 5 g. Numista N3066

2 leva · 2015

Fourth lev 1999–2025; Bimetallic: nickel-brass centre, copper-nickel ring; diameter 26.5 mm; weight 9 g. Numista N80515

5 leva · 1992

Third lev 1962–1999; Nickel brass; diameter 27.2 mm; weight 6 g. Numista N5365

10 leva · 1992

Third lev 1962–1999; Copper-nickel; diameter 30.2 mm; weight 9 g. Numista N6804

10 leva · 1997

Third lev 1962–1999; Brass; diameter 15.5 mm; weight 1.5 g. Numista N5943

20 leva · 1997

Third lev 1962–1999; Brass; diameter 17.5 mm; weight 2.5 g. Numista N4195

50 leva · 1997

Third lev 1962–1999; Brass; diameter 19.5 mm; weight 3.5 g. Numista N6449