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Thracian and Macedonian coins issued around 500 BC were the first coins to circulate in Bulgaria. Coins issued by Greek settlers and local Thracian kings soon circulated within Bulgaria. By the mid-first century BC, Roman coins began circulating in Bulgaria. The First Bulgarian Empire, established in the late seventh century, did not issue its own coins. Instead, Byzantine coins circulated in Bulgaria, especially after Basill II conquered present-day Bulgaria in 1019. The tsars of the Second Bulgarian Empire did issue their own coins under the reigns of Boril (1207-18) to Ivan Shshman (1371-93). In 1393 the Ottoman Turks annexed Bulgaria and it remained a part of the Ottoman Empire until the late nineteenth century.

Bulgaria became a Prinicpality within the Ottoman Empire on July 8, 1879. Eastern Rumelia rebelled against the Ottoman Empire in 1885, when it was annexed and renamed Southern Bulgaria. Bulgaria gained its independence as a Tsardom on July 8, 1908. In April 1941, Bulgaria occupied, but did not annex, Macedonia and Thrace. They remained occupied by Bulgaria until they were occupied by German troops in 1944.

As part of the Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria used Ottoman Empire Piastres (XOTP), but it introduced its own monetary unit, the Lev, (BGO), equal to 100 Stotinki, on May 27, 1880. The Lev was linked to the Franc Germinal at par. Bulgaria issued both Gold Lev (BGZ-Lev Zlato), Silver Lev (BGS-Lev Srebro), paper Lev and the Alexander, a gold coin equal to 20 Lev. Banknotes were issued by the Bulgarian National Bank from 1885 until today.

After Nazi occupation in 1940, the German government began circulating Reichkassenkreditschein (XDEK) along with Lev notes printed in Germany. The Soviets began occupying Bulgaria in September 1944 and issued their own banknotes. Because of the inflation that followed, Bulgaria issued a Socialist Lev (BGM) on May 12, 1952 equal to 100 old Lev. The Hard Lev (BGL) replaced the Socialist Lev on January 1, 1962 at the same time the Soviet Union reformed its currency. Bulgaria also issued special Lev Foreign Exchange Certificates for tourists. Bulgaria suffered further inflation after the fall of communism, and stabilized the currency by establishing a currency board like system on July 1, 1997 at the rate of 1 DEM = 1000 BGL. A New Lev (BGN), linked at par to the German Mark, was introduced on January 1, 1999.

Here is a 2002 dated coin valued at 1 Stotinka. The obverse features a Madara Horseman in the center with a slain lion below. The Madara Horseman is an early large medieval rock relief carved on the Madara Plateau east of Shumen in northeastern Bulgaria, near the village of Madara. The reverse depicts the denomination in the center with the date below.

• Weight: 1.80g
• Diameter: 16mm
• Material: Brass
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: NA
• Condition: Proof
• Mintage: 10,000
• Krause # KM-237

Here is a 2 Stotinki coin data 2002. The obverse features a Madara Horseman in the center with a slain lion below. The Madara Horseman relief depicts a majestic horseman 75 ft above ground level in an almost vertical 328 ft high cliff.. The reverse depicts the denomination in the center with the date below.

• Weight: 2.50g
• Diameter: 18mm
• Material: Brass
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: NA
• Condition: Proof
• Mintage: 10,000
• Krause # KM-238

This 2002 dated coin is valued at 5 Stotinki. The obverse features a Madara Horseman in the center with a slain lion at his feet. The Madara horseman is a stone carving on a cliff face that features a horseman facing right, thrusting a spear into a lion lying at his horse's feet. An eagle is flying in front of the horseman and a dog is running after him. The scene symbolically depicts a military triumph. The reverse depicts the denomination in the center with the date below.

• Weight: 3.50g
• Diameter: 20mm
• Material: Brass
• Edge: Plain
• Mint: NA
• Condition: Proof
• Mintage: 10,000
• Krause # KM-239

This coin is valued at 10 Stotinki and dated 2002. The obverse features a Madara Horseman in the center with a slain lion at his feet. The Madara horseman is a stone carving that dates back to circa 710 AD and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979. The reverse depicts the denomination in the center with the date below.

• Weight: 3.0g
• Diameter: mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Reeded
• Mint: NA
• Condition: Proof
• Mintage: 10,000
• Krause # KM-240

Here is a coin dated 2002 and valued at 20 Stotinki. The obverse features a Madara Horseman in the center with a slain lion at his feet. One theory states the Madara Horseman monument was created during the rule of Bulgar Khan Tervel, and that it is a portrayal of the khan himself and a work of the Bulgars, a nomadic tribe of warriors which settled in northeastern Bulgaria at the end of the 7th century AD. The reverse depicts the denomination in the center with the date below.

• Weight: 4.0g
• Diameter: 20.5mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Reeded
• Mint: NA
• Condition: Proof
• Mintage: 10,000
• Krause # KM-241

Here is a 50 Stotinki coin dated 2002. The obverse features a Madara Horseman in the center with a slain lion at his feet. One theory connects the Madara Horseman relief with the ancient Thracians, claiming it portrays a Thracian god. The reverse depicts the denomination in the center with the date below.

• Weight: 5.0g
• Diameter: 22.5mm
• Material: Copper-Nickel
• Edge: Reeded
• Mint: NA
• Condition: Proof
• Mintage: 10,000
• Krause # KM-242

This coin is dated 2002 and valued at 1 Lev. The obverse features Saint Ivan of Rila. Saint John of Rila was born in 876 and died around 946. He was the first Bulgarian hermit, and was revered as a saint even while he was alive. The legend surrounding him tells of wild animals that freely came up to him and birds that landed in his hands. His followers founded many churches in his honor, including the famous Rila Monastery. One of these churches, "St Ivan Rilski" was only discovered in 2008 in the town of Veliko Tarnovo. Today, he is honored as the patron saint of the Bulgarian people and as one of the most important saints in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The reverse depicts the denomination in the center with the date to the bottom right.

• Weight: 7.030g
• Diameter: 24.3mm
• Material: Bi-Matallic: Copper-Nickel center, Brass Ring
• Edge: Alternating Reeding and plain sections
• Mint: NA
• Condition: Proof
• Mintage: 10,000
• Krause # KM-254

This object is not a coin. It was included in the 2002 proof set. The obverse features the Rila Monestary. Founded in the 10th century, the Rila Monastery is regarded as one of Bulgaria's most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments. The Monastery of Saint Ivan of Rila, better known as the Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the southwestern Rila Mountains, 73 mi south of the capital Sofia in the deep valley of the Rilska River at an elevation of 3,763 ft above sea level. The monastery is named after the famous Bulgaria saint and hermit Ivan of Rila. The reverse depicts the National Coat of Arms for Bulgaria.

Article 2 of the Coat of Arms Law States:
'The coat of arms of the Republic of Bulgaria shall be a rampant golden crowned lion on a dark red field with the shape of a shield. Above the shield there shall be a big crown which originally were the crowns of Bulgarian kings of the Second Bulgarian state with five crosses and another cross over the crown. The shield shall be supported by two golden crowned rampant lions, turned towards the shield from the right and left heraldic sides. They shall stand above two crossed oak branches with fruits. Below the shield, over a white band put over the oak branches with a three-coloured edge, shall be written with golden letters "Unity renders power".'

• Weight: g
• Diameter: mm
• Material:
• Edge:
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• Mintage:
• Krause # KM-