"A brief History of Romania". A fine selection of royal artefacts, militaria and rare coins #517/2023

At first glance, the question "what is the most significant moment in Romania's history" seems a simple one. In reality, the answer is much more complicated because the question of national history leads us to the issue of national identity, a topical one, despite the fact that today we live, at least politically, in a post-national stage of history, following Romania's acceptance into the European Union. European values belong, or should belong, to all of us only when we are aware that we, as Romanian citizens, do not come from nowhere. Europe needs us as citizens with a clear and defined identity, first of all our own and then accepted and respected by others. The effort to recover elements of national identity is also reflected in this auction. From the Dacian-Roman heritage left by the founders of the Romanian people, to pieces from the medieval period to pieces from the modern era, such as those commemorating the German-born sovereigns Carol I and Elisabeth, who patronised the construction of a European Romanian culture, we have a picture of a long-term effort built around the idea of identity. An identity that we need to cast in a new mould and carry forward.