Wallachia, Romania -- formerly Transylvania. Silver ducat minted under Mircea the Elder, grandfather of Vlad Tepes "The Impaler"

Vlad Tepes of the House of Basarab was a real, historical prince. He ruled Wallachia in Romania from 1456 to 1462 AD. The name Dracul(a), meaning little dragon, was inherited from his famous father, Vlad Dracul, who fought alongside Sigismund of Hungary in war against the Turks.

Sigismund bestowed his thanks upon Dracul by knighting him into the Dragon Order, which was created to fight for both Christianity and the Hungarian king. His son Dracula (+a meaning "son of" Dracul) swore his life to bloody warfare against the Islamic Turkish invaders of his Chrisitan homeland. Refusing to submit to his bitter enemies, he put 20,000 of them to death in his six year reign. One gruesome story recounts that when the Turkish Sultan's emissaries refused to remove their helmets in his presence, Vlad Dracula sent all of their heads back to the Sultan with their helmets nailed on with iron spikes.

His brutal ways brought upon him the nickname "The Impaler" and his bloodlust was known throughout Europe in the 14th century.

Circulated during the lifetime and reign of Vlad as he minted no coins of his own.
Eagle standing on a helmet with cross-shaped nose guard, large letter to left /
Dracul family crest/coat of arms on shield. Average 14 mm diamter.

Dracula#V038: $199 SOLD