Prizren keeps Illyrian coins

In a non-governmental way, in the city of Prizren, on the way to the Castle of this city, there is a "four corner" store, from the outside there is a white facade, where inside it is preserved something that has not existed around the Balkan countries for years. Albanian Numismatic Association Demastion, according to its leader Kujtim Gërmizaj, belongs to the field of culture, it is based on the protection, study and presentation of moving material - the treasure of coins and other cultural values.

Germizaj says that Demastion, in addition to possessing the old coins of different times, it also contains decorative items, various relics as a type of handicraft, materials that have preserved their brilliance over the centuries as a real cultural value, objects of the nature of different types of pottery, copper and silverware, ethnographic materials as well as old clothes made in the form of manual folk crafts.

While on one of the walls of this association, "hanging" are several paintings, which according to Gërmizaj, were of Albanian and international painters, as well as old photographs with motifs of the city of Prizren, paintings with motifs of prominent Albanian patriots and others.

"The purpose of collecting coins and other ancient items has a presentational character for the cultural wealth of Albanians created during the centuries and historical eras of culture and branches of art", he quotes voice the words of Germizaj, who has further added that the focus of the association he leads is aimed at raising cultural capacities, raising new staff, raising awareness, influencing the population and their greater commitment to the preservation of cultural heritage . "The basic activity for the protection of the general cultural prosperity, with which Kosovo, Prizren and the region is rich, is actually a permanent concern not only of the association, but of all of us", he added.

The oldest preserved coins in the association's collection are coins from ancient times. The Demastion Albanian Numismatic Association preserves two coins with the inscription Dardanici (Dardania) from the 300nd century, where on one side the head of Emperor Trajan can be seen, while on the back of the coin there is the inscription "Dardanici". Several coin variants of King Pyrrhus, more coins of Emperor Justinian, as well as many old Illyrian coins. Germizaj says that the Illyrian coins "Illyrian Drachma", which were minted in the city of Durrës-Dyrrachium, came from King Monun during the years 280-XNUMX BC, who was also the first Illyrian king to mint silver coins.

"In addition to old Illyrian coins, the association also collects old Roman coins, old Greek coins, old Byzantine coins, modern coins and banknotes of different times," he added. The activity of this association has a broad social character useful for the whole society, therefore the numismatic association, according to its leader, cannot be imagined without cooperation with other institutions belonging to this branch. "In general, the association through old antique exhibits, relics of material culture, old Illyrian coins presents the ancient history of Kosovo, the ancient history of the city of Prizren and the region as a whole. We cooperate and have relations with institutions that deal with research scientific, we cooperate with numismatists inside and outside Kosovo, with individual persons as well as with other international organizations", says Gërmizaj.

Demastion is a registered association since April 2000 and has many visitors from different countries.