Svätopluk II, ruler of Nitra
€100 gold collector coin
Before he died, Svätopluk I, ruler of Great Moravia, divided the governance of the country between two of his sons. The younger of them, Svätopluk II, most likely became Prince of Nitra. He was subordinated to his older brother, Mojmir II (894–906), ruler of Great Moravia. Svätopluk II, who was supported by Aribo, the margrave of the Bavarian Eastern March, rebelled against his brother in 898. The Holy Roman Emperor, Arnulf of Carinthia, ordered the margrave Aribo and the margrave Liutpold, who administered the Bavarian Nordgau and Carinthia, to come to the aid of Svätopluk II. The large Bavarian forces of Liutpold and Aribo pillaged the territory of Great Moravia. In 899 the Bavarians embarked on a further destructive incursion into Great Moravia, but they could not prevent the defeat of Svätopluk II. He was imprisoned by Mojmir II in one of his castles, until eventually being freed by Bavarian forces on a third incursion. Svätopluk II was Prince of Nitra for less than five years (894–899), with the Great Moravian state managing to overcome his 898-9 rebellion.
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Coin description
Obverse:
The collector coin’s obverse design depicts two warriors of the period in combat. The Slovak coat of arms appears on left side of the design, and directly above it is the year of issuance ‘2020’. Along the upper edge, mainly in the left quadrant, is the name of the issuing country ‘SLOVENSKO’, which is separated from the central image by a semicircular band of period ornamentation. There is beading all around the rim of the design. Above the bottom edge are the mint mark of the Kremnica Mint (Mincovňa Kremnica), consisting of the letters ‘MK’ placed between two dies, and the stylised letters ‘LR’ referring to the coin’s designer Roman Lugár.Reverse:
On the reverse there is an imagined portrait of Svatopluk II on horseback and, in the background, a semicircular band of period ornamentation. To the right of the portrait are the coin’s denomination ‘100’ and currency ‘EURO’, one above the other. Along the edge of the upper half of the design is the inscription ‘894 – 899 NITRIANSKE KNIEŽA’, stating the subject’s position as Prince of Nitra and the length of his reign. Along the lower edge is the name ‘SVÄTOPLUK II’. As on the obverse, the rim is beaded.
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Coin details
Designer: Roman Lugár Composition: .900 gold, .75 silver, .25 copper Weight: 9.5 g Diameter: 26 mm Edge: milled Producer: Kremnica Mint Engraver: Dalibor Schmidt Issuing volume: 3,950 coins in proof quality Issuing date: 26 November 2020