Spurius Afranius
Spurius Afranius
18 січня 2023, 10:28

The most valuable coins of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth

The most valuable coins of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth
Sigismund III, the first king of the Vasa dynasty on the Polish throne, is known for the active minting of coins of various denominations at numerous mints. This article will present the rarest and most expensive coins of the crown coinage of the reign of this king. 
Sigismund III portrait by Peter Paul Rubens
Sigismund III portrait by Peter Paul Rubens
These are commemorative coins of 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 ducats minted at the Mint in Bydgoszcz. All of them have a rarity of R8. The stamps for minting these coins were prepared by Swiss-born medalist Samuel Ammon. The obverse depicts a right-facing bust of the king without a crown and in armor. Below the bust on the coin are the initials of the medalist SA and the date 1621. Along the rim is the inscription: ESIGISMVNDVS III D:G:POLONI·ET SVECIÆ·REXE. There are nine fields on the reverse under the crown. shields with coats of arms of Poland and Lithuania as well as Sweden and Gothia. On both sides of the shield are the initials of the tenant of the mint in Bydgoszcz, Jacob Jacobson van Emden: "II" on the left and "VE" on the right. Above the crown is the date 16–21. There is a continuation of the legend along the edge: EMAGNVS DVX LITVAN:RVSS: - :PRVSS:MAS:SAM:LIVON:ZC:E Grand Duke of Lithuania, Rus', Prussia, Mazovia, Samogitia, Livonia, etc.).
Consider the background of these coins and present two copies sold this century at international auctions. In 1620, the young Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Osman II, launched a war against the Commonwealth in order to conquer its southern territories. In the battle of Tsetsora, the Polish army was defeated; its commanders Stanislav Zolkiewski was killed, and Stanislav Konetspolsky was captured. In 1621 the war continued. The Sultan of the Ottoman Empire with a huge army and auxiliary contingents of dependent territories (Crimean Khanate, Wallachia, Moldova, Transylvania) approached the Polish border. He was opposed by the troops of the Commonwealth reinforced by formations of Ukrainian Cossacks. The battles went on almost continuously from September 2 to October 9, 1621. The Ottoman invasion was repulsed and peace was concluded. This was an outstanding event in the history not only of the Commonwealth, but of the whole of Europe.
Battle of Khotyn, painting by Josef Brandt
Battle of Khotyn, painting by Josef Brandt
In honor of this victory, these highly artistic coins of amazing beauty and rarity were minted.
Each appearance of such a coin at auction is a rare and outstanding event in the world of numismatics. So at the Stack’s & Bowers auction in January 2022, a coin with a face value of 80 ducats was sold for $ 900,000.
Sigismund III 80 ducats 1621
Sigismund III 80 ducats 1621
Sigismund III 80 ducats 1621
Sigismund III 80 ducats 1621
The provenance is confirmed. We present it in accordance with the data of the auction.
From the Clifton-Wild Collection.
Ex: Stack's (12/1995) Lot #820.
Ex Credit de la Bourse (4/1992) Lot #806.
Ex. J. U. Niemcewicz Collection.
Possibly Ex: Virgil Brand Collection
In 2018, a coin with a face value of 100 ducats was sold at the CNG auction for $1,800,000. This is the largest denomination of a coin of the Commonwealth with a size of 70 mm and a weight of 348.3 g of gold. 
Sigismund III 100 ducats 1621
Sigismund III 100 ducats 1621
Sigismund III 100 ducats 1621
Sigismund III 100 ducats 1621
All 6 known specimens of coins are given below at the link. 
Based on CNG auction materials.
a) Muzeum Narodowe w Krakowe (Emeryk Hutten-Czapski Collection, donated in 1903)
b) Sigismund von Chelminski Collection (Helbing, 25 April 1904), lot 206 (hammer 3000 Gold Marks)
c) F. S. Guggenheimer Collection (Stack's, 22 January 1953), lot 497 (hammer $3000)
d) Stack's (1 February 1957), lot 1031 = Stack's (8 April 1954), lot 1151
e) Stack's (7 December 1989), lot 2207 = Stack's (17 September 1980), lot 2207 = Stack's (7 November 1974), lot 255
f) Kroisos Collection (Stack's, 14 January 2008), lot 3091 = G. Hirsch 53 (26 June 1967), lot 210 (the present example)

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