site.btaMadara Rider, St John of Rila, Paisii of Hilandar to Be Depicted on Bulgarian Euro Coins - Central Bank

Meeting on Wednesday, the Governing Council of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) approved the revised designs for the national side of all Bulgarian euro coin denominations, the only change being the year of issue: 2026. The designs feature the Madara Horseman on the obverse of the 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cent coins. The 1 euro coin will depict St Ivan Rilski, and the 2 euro coin will feature Paisy Hilendarski.

The main elements of the design reproduce the design of the current Bulgarian coins in circulation. These symbols are already well-established and widely accepted by the Bulgarian public and retaining them would ensure a smooth transition to the euro while preserving Bulgarian identity.

The revised coin designs were created by Bulgarian Mint EAD, the central bank added.

The BNB recalled that the process of coordinating and approving the design of the Bulgarian euro coins was completed in February 2024 when the Council of the European Union adopted a Decision (Information Note 5693/24) approving the designs. The euro coins have a common side and a national side. The common sides of the coins are designed by Luc Luycx of the Royal Belgian Mint and depict images of the European Union or of Europe, symbolizing the unity of the EU.

The artistic design for the Bulgarian national side of the euro coins meets the requirements for the main motifs and mandatory details of the design, specified in Council Regulation (EU) No. 729/2014 of June 24, 2014, on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation.

According to the regulatory requirements, each national side of the euro coins includes mandatory and optional details.

The mandatory details included in the design of the national side of the Bulgarian euro coins are a depiction of a circle of 12 stars as on the European Union flag; the word БЪЛГАРИЯ  (BULGARIA) in Cyrillic; lettering along the rim of the 2-euro coins reading БОЖЕ ПАЗИ БЪЛГАРИЯ (GOD SAVE BULGARIA) – half right-side up, half upside down.

The optional features selected for the Bulgarian euro coins include the word евро (euro) in Cyrillic on the 1 and 2 euro coins and the word, the word стотинка (cent) on the 1 euro cent coin and стотинки (cents) on the 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 euro cent coins; as well as an inscription of the year of Bulgaria's euro adoption.