Dracula's Dad

Wallachia, Vlad II Dracul, 1436-1442, 1443-1447, Silver ban, 0.31g, 12 mm. small edge chip.

Obverse: eagle and cross, Reverse: dragon

Only about eight of these coins are known. This one is actually on the market and is being offered by Robert Kokotailo of Calgary Coin Gallery. Robert has kindly made this image Public Domain and I believe that this is the only public domain photograph of this coin type.

(click on image to enlarge and save)

Vlad II (the dragon) was inducted into the Order of the Dragon and adopted the surname Dracul in 1431. His infamous son Vlad III, posthumously called Vlad Țepeș (Vlad the Impaler), became known as Dracula (Son of the Dragon) and was the inspiration for Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula. No confirmed coins of Vlad III exist although there are records saying that he issued coins.

This coin has better surfaces than the example in the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cambridge and it does not come cheap. As is said, "If you have to ask the price, you probably can't afford it"! These coins are always expensive whenever one shows up on the market as coin prices depend on both rarity and public interest and a coin of Dracula's dad certainly has both.

Vlad Dracul

If you plan to visit Romania, Romania Tourism has an interesting article about the various sites that you can visit that have connections to the legend and to Bram Stoker's novel. You can even eat at a restaurant in the building where Dracula was born, but you might get a few glances from other customers if you ask for something with no garlic!