Czworak vs. Trojak Coins: Jagiellonian Monetary System

Illustrated Specimen Details: Silver Czworak

Example Specimen: Czworak, 1568 (Grand Duchy of Lithuania)

Authority & Heraldry: This striking specimen was struck under the authority of Sigismund II Augustus (Polish "Zygmunt II August", Lithuanian "Žygimantas Augustas"), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, and the first ruler of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The obverse features a charismatic crowned portrait of the ruler with a luxuriant beard—arguably one of the most striking portraits seen on coins across all historical eras, making it an absolute favorite among collectors for its design. It is surrounded by the legend SIGIS AVG D G REX PO MAG DVX L (Sigismundus Augustus dei gratia Rex Poloniae, Magnus Dux Lithuaniae).

The reverse showcases a crowned, unofficial coat of arms combining two distinct Lithuanian heraldic symbols: the Vytis (a mounted armored knight holding a sword and shield) and the Columns of Gediminas. The legend reads MONETA MAGNI DVCAT LITVA - 1568, proudly identifying the issuer. Notably, the denomination is indicated exclusively in an outdated Latin numeral format—IIII instead of the standard IV.

1. GRAND DUCHY OF LITHUANIA (1565-1569) & POLISH-LITHUANIAN COMMONWEALTH (1569-1795): 1 czworak = 4 grosze (grašis / groats) = 1/7.5 złoty

The name of the czworak coin stems from the Polish word cztery ("four"), directly indicating its multiplicity to four smaller units. It was equal to 4 grosze (or the Lithuanian grašis). This terminology shares a clear structural analogy with other Polish-Lithuanian denominations: the poltorak (1.5 grosz), the trojak (3 grosz), and the szostak (6 grosz).

Note: When searching for a "czworak", one might occasionally encounter references to a much later Austrian gold coin. However, in classical numismatics, it is most accurate to reserve this term exclusively for the 16th-century Lithuanian and Polish silver coin.

History and Characteristics of the Czworak

The czworak was a fairly substantial, medium-denomination silver coin introduced in 1565 as part of a major monetary reform orchestrated by Sigismund II Augustus. It appeared during a critical historical window just prior to the signing of the Union of Lublin in 1569 — the landmark agreement that formally unified the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Interestingly, some numismatic catalogs place the early czworak in the section dedicated to Polish coins. This happens because the obverse bears the portrait and titles of the Jagiellonian dynasty, the royal family ruling both lands. However, the reverse unmistakably displays the Lithuanian coat of arms and explicitly names the Grand Duchy of Lithuania as the issuer. Ultimately, the introduction of this coin was an intentional economic step designed to unify the monetary systems of the two main Jagiellonian states.

Circulation and Western European Trade

Within the local economy, the czworak was integrated alongside other standard denominations such as the denar, szeląg, trojak, szóstak, ort, złoty, and talar, maintaining an official value of 1/7.5 złoty. It proved highly convenient for both everyday commerce and larger market transactions across present-day Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, and parts of Latvia.

Beyond domestic use, the czworak was widely utilized in trade with Western European countries. In these international markets, the coin earned the conventional nickname "Barthes". Derived from the old German word Bardo, meaning "the bearded one", this moniker was a direct reaction to the exceptionally charismatic and brilliantly engraved portrait of the bearded King Sigismund II Augustus that made the coin visually unmistakable.