21 mm diameter, 6.452 g, 90% gold, reeded edge Obverse: ROMANIA, face value 100 LEI, year 2014, coat of arms of Romania, Saint Nicholas Church in Curtea de Argeş, all on a radiated background	Reverse: inside inner linear circle and on a radiated background a coin issued during the rule of Vladislav I, above a bust of the voivod, inscription VLADISLAV I VLAICU 1364 Issuing date: 28th of April 2014 Mintage: 250 coins

With the same subject were also made 1.000.000 pieces of brass 50 bani, intended for circulation. This is the third Romanian anniversary issue with the Princely Church (Saint Nicholas Church) in Curtea de Argeş. The other two are 10 lei 2009 - 650 Years from the Establishment of Walachia's Metropolitan Bishopric and 10 lei 2011 - buckle of Curtea de Argeş.

About Vladislav I Vlaicu, Voivod of Walachia

Vladislav I started his reign in 1364. Vladislav was the son of Nicolae Alexandru and nephew of Basarab I the Founder. The precise moment when Vladislav I ended his rule is not established yet. It is certain that in 1374 he ruled, and that in 1377 the sole ruler is his brother Radu (associated to the throne in 1372) [2].

The oldest internal document of Walachia preserved until present was issued by the chancellery of Vladislav I. Through this charter the prince donated to his monastery Vodiţa goods, land and money. Besides Vodiţa Vladislav established also the monasteries of Tismana and Cotmeana [2].

Another important document from the rule of Vlaicu-voivod is the commercial privilege granted in 1368 to the merchants of Braşov, through which were established the custom taxes that had to be payed [2].

About the Silver Ducat Appearing on the Coin

The first known Romanian medieval coins were struck during the reign of Vladislav I. The coins - ducats, deniers and bans - were all in silver [1]. Today it can be said that Vladislav introduced the first Romanian monetary system, namely a monometallic one based on silver. These coins show a heedful execution.

The ducat on the coin features on one face (positioned below) a recursant eagle perched on a knight's helm and inscription +TRANS ALPINI, placed between two pearl circles. On the second face (position atop) a cross fleury is featured and inscription M LADIZLAI WAIWO M, also placed between two pearl circles.

Transalpina is the Latin name of the country. For instance, in 1460 Vlad the Impaler (Ţepeş) sent a letter (to the inhabitants of Braşov) which he signed Wlaad, vayvoda parcium Transalpinarum [3]. As adjective "trans" means "beyond" or "over", while "alpin" comes from Latin "alpinus" (from the Alps), transalpine would mean "over the Alps" (for instance, Transalpine Gaul was the name of the Roman province lying beyond the Alps. A coordinate term is "cis", meaning "on the same side" (Cisalpine Gaul was a Roman province in northern Itally, lying on the same side of the mountains as Rome). Transalpina, as a name, becomes explainable if it originated north of the Southern Carpathians, mountains which were also named Transylvanian Alps. An old Hungarian term for Wallachia is Havaselve (meaning Terra Transalpina). In the Wallachian, Slavic written documents, Wallachia was named Ungro-Vlahia, written Uggro-Vlahia (according to Giurescu, a name of Byzantine origin, for whom the Wallachian Romanians were the Wallachians [Romanians] inhabiting the land close to the Hungarian borders).

References

1. Buzdugan G., Luchian O., Oprescu C., Monede şi bancnote româneşti. Editura Sport-Turism, Bucureşti, 1977.

2. Giurescu C., Giurescu D., Istoria românilor. Vol. 2. Editura Ştiinţifică şi Enciclopedică, Bucureşti, 1976.

3. Mihăilă G., Dicţionar al limbii române vechi (sfîrşitul sec. X - începutul sec. XVI). Editura enciclopedică română, Bucureşti, 1974.

4. Oberländer-Târnoveanu E., Pârvan Katiuşa, Constantinescu B., Niculescu Gh., Georgescu Migdonia, The Early Stage of the Wallachian Coinage (c. 1365-1386), in the Light of the Atomic Analyses. Proceedings of the XIVth International Numismatics Congress, Glasgow, 31 august - 4 septembrie 2009, Marea Britanie, editor Holmes N., 2011 (accesat on-line în ianuarie 2015).