817) Tsar Ivan Asen II, Bulgaria: Fifth Coin in the "Medieval Bulgarian Rulers Coin Series": A 10 Lev Silver Coin minted by the Mint of Bulgaria on behalf of and issued by the Bulgarian National Bank on 17.09.2018: The Bulgarian National Bank has released on 17.09.2018, the fifth coin in the Coin Series titled "Medieval Bulgarian Rulers", which has been issued intermittently since 2011. The previous coins which were issued in this Coin series featured - Khan Krum (2011), Czar Samuil (2014), Czar Simeon the Great (2014) and Khan Tervel (2017). The latest coin in this series features the Bulgarian Ruler Ivan Asen II (1193-1241 AD), who became emperor of the Bulgarian territories in 1218 AD and ruled until his own death in 1241. The medieval history of Bulgaria began with the loss of Eastern flanks of territory belonging to the Byzantine Empire to an invading Bulgar force, who were themselves Turkic semi-nomadic warrior tribes in the late 7th Century AD. The Bulgars then founded the first unified Bulgarian State in 681 AD, which dominated most of the Balkans and significantly influenced Slavic cultures, including the development of the Cyrillic script. The First Bulgarian Empire lasted until the early 11th Century when the Byzantine emperor Basil II (reigned 976 - 1025 AD) conquered and dismantled it. In 1185, nearly 190 years after the defeat of the last ruler of the First Bulgarian Empire, the Second Bulgarian Empire was established after the successful overthrow of the Byzantine Rule, which saw the ascent of the Asen dynasty and its first ruler Ivan Asen I in 1187. The Second Bulgarian Empire reached its zenith in terms of power, influence and territory under the son of Ivan Asen I, who ascended the throne in 1218 as Ivan Asen II. The Obverse and Reverse of the Commemorative Silver 10 Lev Coin shown side by side After several exhausting wars and feudal strife, the Second Bulgarian Empire disintegrated in 1396, with its territories eventually being brought under Ottoman Rule for nearly five centuries. About Ivan Asen II: Ivan Asen II was still a child when his father Czar Asen I, who was one of the founders of the Second Bulgarian Empire was killed in 1196 AD. He was succeeded by his younger brother Kaloyan (1170-1207), who was succeeded by Boril, a nephew and son of a sister of Ivan Asen I and Kaloyan, who ruled from 1207 to 1218, who was succeeded by Ivan asen II in 1218. Ivan Asen II executed a peace Treaty with Thessalonica and Theodore Komnenos Doukas (ruler of Epirus and Thessaly, Thessalonica and most of Macedonia and Western Thrace, which was short-lived, as soon after, Doukas proclaimed himself the Emperor and staked claim to the Byzantine Imperial throne. Theodore amassed a huge army to attack Constantinople, but then diverted his army against Bulgaria, which was a staunch ally. The Epirote and Bulgarian armies clashed at Klokonitsa in March or April 1230 AD. Ivan Asen II personally commanded his reserve troops which included 1,000 Cuman mounted archers. As he headed into battle, Ivan Asen II held a copy of his peace treaty with Theodore high in the air while marching into battle as a reference to his opponent's betrayal. Theodore was defeated and captured at the Battle of Klokotnitsa and taken captive. Theodore's empire soon collapsed in defeat and Ivan Asen II annexed several large territories in Macedonia to the Second Bulgarian Empire. The Commemorative Coin: The Reverse of the 10 Lev Silver Coin features, within a decorative circle, the cavalry led by Tsar Ivan Asen II with the broken alliance treaty pierced on his spear. The peripheral inscription reads in Cyrillic script "MEDIEVAL BULGARIAN RULERS" (on top) and "TSAR IVAN ASEN II" (on the bottom). The Obverse of the 10 Lev Silver Coin features a gold-plated medallion etched with the official seal of Tsar Ivan Asen II, with the denominational value of "10 LEVS" (in Cyrillic), the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) logo and the year of issue "2018" inscribed under the BNB logo. On the upper periphery is inscribed "BULGARIAN NATIONAL BANK" (in Cyrillic) The specifications of this coin are: Denomination: 10 Lev; Metal Composition: .925 Silver (Ag); Weight: 23.3 grams; Diameter/Size: 38.6 mm; Coin Quality: Proof with Gold plating; Maximum Mintage: 3,000 pieces; Mint: Mint of Bulgaria on behalf of the Bulgarian National Bank; Year of issue: 2018; Designers: Elena Todorova and Todor Todorov. Remarks: Each coin is encapsulated and presented in a branded Bulgarian National Bank custom case, accompanied by a numbered Certificate Of Authenticity (COA). The Seal which appears in the centre of the Obverse of the commemorative Coin in gold plating