W. C a r e w H a z l i t t Coinage of the European Continent

366 The Coins of Europe
the reality has been impugned, it appears
that the laws of
Stephen VII. Duschan mention under 1349 the perpero
carrevo in that metal as an existing denomination, and that
the double-headed eagle on certain zlatica or aurei of that
prince (or emperor, as he styles himself)
is common to his
seal. The pieces hitherto recovered belong to the period
between 1275 and 1389. Looking at the evident importance
and prosperity which the kingdom acquired under
some of its early rulers, and the analogous practice of neighbouring
states, there is no prima facie improbability in the
hypothesis that Servia struck gold, and that the modern
trouvaille is genuine.
Servia retained its
independence till 1459, when it fell
into the hands of the Turks ;
but it became an autonomous
'
principality in 1804 and a kingdom in 1882. Since the
Treaty of Berlin there has been a separate currency in
:
bronze, 10, 5, 2, and I
para; in silver, 50 para, I, 2, and 5
dinara ; and in gold, 10 and 20 dinara. The par
is
approximately = i
centime, and the dinar = I franc; 100
para= I dinar.
The most ancient money with the name of Bosnia, or
connected with it as a self-governing district, describes the
Bosnia.
ruler as a Ban; a piece of Stephen I. (1272-00)
reads Stefan. Banvs, but the later coinage bears
the word Rex. The types are borrowed from Servia,
Aquileia, etc., and in common with the entire body of
Danubian money are unexceptionally Christian. The
territory, of which the confines were never very sharply
defined, was claimed, if not governed, at successive epochs
by Servia- and Hungary; in 1463 it became a Turkish
province, and it is at present an Austrian one, notwithstanding
repeated efforts to shake off a foreign yoke.