Bulgaria 1000 leva St John of Rila Monastery PR66 PCGS silver coin 1996

This Bulgaria 1000 Leva silver coin from 1996, certified PCGS PR66DCAM, honors St. Ivan of Rila, the most revered Bulgarian monastic figure and founder of the Rila Monastery. The reverse presents a powerful religious composition: the saint stands holding a scroll symbolizing spiritual teachings and a long cross representing faith and protection. A radiant halo surrounds his head, while the inscription “Св. Йоан Рилски” appears above in elegant Cyrillic script. To the left, the denomination 1000 Лева is engraved, and beneath it sits a detailed depiction of the Rila Monastery’s architectural silhouette with its domed church and tiered structure. The deep cameo fields highlight every engraved fold of the saint’s robe and the monastery’s stonework.

The obverse features the ECU emblem at center, encircled by “Република България • Republic of Bulgaria,” complemented with stars forming a symmetrical frame, along with the year 1996. This bilingual design reflects Bulgaria’s economic orientation and its transitional historical context. The Proof DCAM strike enhances the contrast between the reflective surfaces and frosted reliefs, while the PR66 grade attests to a strong, visually appealing state of preservation.

A meaningful coin that merges Bulgaria’s spiritual heritage, religious art, and numismatic elegance — a valuable addition to themed collections.

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