BULGARIA. Second Empire. Ivan Sisman, 1371–1395. Trachy (Bronze, 17 mm, 0.74 g), Tarnovo. Large Šišman monogram. Rev. Large Terter monogram. Raduchev & Zhekov 1.15.18-20. Earthen deposits and with a minor flan crack, otherwise, very fine.


Ivan Šišman ('fat' in Turkish) was a heroic but tragic figure in Bulgarian history. Fighting desperately against the Ottoman invasions, he was defeated on numerous occasions and eventually subjected to their rule in July 1393 after the fall of Tarnovo. Ivan ruled for two more years as a vassall of Bayezid I, but he was killed by command of the sultan in 1395 and Bulgaria incorporated into the Ottoman Empire.