Big news: starting tomorrow (January 1, 2026), Bulgaria joins the eurozone, swapping its trusty lev for fresh coin designs! 💶🇧🇬 These coins aren't just pocket change—they're mini-art pieces celebrating Bulgaria's epic heritage. Here's the lowdown:
- Cent coins (1c to 50c): The Madara Rider 🏇🦁 – an 8th-century rock relief near Madara showing a knight triumphing over a lion. It's on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 1979.
- 1 euro: Patron Saint John of Rila 🙏🌳 – founder of the massive Rila Monastery, he once lived as a hermit in the hollow of a tree.
- 2 euros: Paisius of Hilandar 📜✒️ – the Mount Athos monk who penned a key text sparking Bulgaria's national revival. The coin edge reads "God protect Bulgaria."
Fun fact: these motifs have been on the lev—the currency Bulgaria adopted in 1881, named after an archaic word for "lion" 🦁. Now they get a euro glow-up!
Planning a Euro trip in 2026? Keep an eye on your change—you might end up with a mini time capsule in your pocket! 🌍✈️
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
