16TH CENTURY Coins
Zweier Coins: Late Bracteates of the Holy Roman Empire
Illustrated Specimen Details: Zweier Coin Example Specimen: Zweier, 1534 (Prince-Archbishopric of Salzburg) Historical Context: This uniface coin (bracteate) was struck under the authority of Matthäus Lang von Wellenburg, a pro…
Denga: Medieval Wire Coin that Named Russian Money
Illustrated Specimen Details: Silver Denga (Tsardom of Russia) Example Specimen: Denga, after 1547 — Tsardom of Russia (Ivan IV the Terrible) Authority and Ruler: This silver "wire coin" was issued under Ivan IV Vasil…
Dwudenar Coin: Double Denar of Lithuania and Poland
Illustrated Specimen Details: Dwudenar (Grand Duchy of Lithuania) Example Specimen: Dwudenar (2 denar), 1570 — Grand Duchy of Lithuania Design & Dynastic Symbolism: The obverse of this small silver coin displays the stylize…
Polgrosz (Half-Grosz) Coin: Lithuanian Vytis, Polish Eagle
Illustrated Specimen Details: Silver Polgrosz (Grand Duchy of Lithuania) Example Specimen: Polgrosz (Półgrosz), 1559 — Grand Duchy of Lithuania Design & Symbols: The obverse features the iconic Pahonia (Vytis) — the histor…
Groshen: Historical Moldavian Silver Coin Denomination
Illustrated Specimen Details: 1 Groshen (Moldavia) Example Specimen: 1 groshen, 1457-1504 (Stephen the Great) Authority: Issued by Stephen III , also known as Stephen the Great (Ștefan cel Mare), Voivode of the Principality of …
Weissgroschen: The "White Groschen" of the Bohemia
Illustrated Specimen Details: Weissgroschen Example Specimen: Rudolf II, 1592 The coin shown above is a silver weissgroschen minted in 1592 during the reign of Rudolf II , a prominent Holy Roman Emperor from the House of Habsbu…
Chetveretsa: The Smallest Russian Silver Coin
Illustrated Specimen Details: Chetveretsa Example Specimen: Ivan IV Vasilyevich (The Terrible), 1533-1584 The specimen shown above is a silver chetveretsa , minted during the reign of Ivan IV Vasilyevich , the first ruler to be …
Körtling Coin: The Gothic Silver of Göttingen
Illustrated Specimen Details: Körtling Example Specimen: Körtling, 1538 — City of Göttingen (Lower Saxony, Germany) Principality of Göttingen — subdivision of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire, with Göttingen as its c…
Parpagliola Coin: Duchy of Savoy & Italian States
Illustrated Specimen Details: Parpagliola Example Specimen: Parpagliola, 1584-1586 — Duchy of Savoy (Italian States) This billon (low-grade silver) coin was issued under Charles Emmanuel I (Carlo Emanuele di Savoia, known as &q…
Mariengroschen: coin from City of Goslar (Germany)
MARIENGROSCHEN: COIN OF GOSLAR Mariengroschen, 1553: City of Goslar (Germany) Goslar — historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany. The first mention of the city dates back to 922, when Henry I founded a settlement near the Rammelsberg mountain. After t…
Matthier: coin from City of Hildesheim (Germany)
MATTHIER: COIN OF HILDESHEIM Matthier, 1593: City of Hildesheim (German States) Ruler: Rudolf II — Holy Roman Emperor (1576-1612). EIN MATTHIER 93 : one matthier, 1593. Globus cruciger (cross above the globe) as a symbol of the power of the monarch…
Scherf: coin from Duchy of Pomerania-Wolgast-Stolp
SCHERF: COIN OF WOLGAST (GERMANY) 1 scherf, 1591: Duchy of Pomerania-Wolgast-Stolp The Duchy of Pomerania-Wolgast-Stolp, also known as the Duchy of Wolgast and Stolp, was a feudal duchy in Western Pomerania within the Holy Roman Empire. Its capital…
Carolus: coin from Free City of Besançon (France)
CAROLUS: COIN OF BESANÇON (FRANCE) ½ carolus, 1576: Free City of Besançon (Holy Roman Empire, France) The Free City of Besançon was a self-governing free city during 1184-1654 as part of the Holy Roman Empire. Now it is a fairly large provincial ci…
Czworak: coin from Grand Duchy of Lithuania; 4 grosze
CZWORAK: COIN OF LITHUANIA Czworak, 1568: Grand Duchy of Lithuania Ruler: Sigismund II Augustus (Polish "Zygmunt II August", Lithuanian "Žygimantas Augustas") — King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. The first ruler of the …
Trillina: coin from Duchy of Milan; 3 denari
TRILLINA: COIN OF MILAN (ITALY) Trillina, 1556-1598: Duchy of Milan (old Italy) Ruler: Philip II of Spain or Philip the Prudent (Spanish "Felipe el Prudente") — Duke of Milan (from 1540), King of Naples and Sicily (from 1554), King of Eng…
Picciolo: coin from Kingdom of Sicily (Italy)
PICCIOLO: COIN OF SICILY 3 picciolo, 1556-1598: Kingdom of Sicily (Italy) ND (no date: on ancient, old coins the date was often not indicated — usually the dating is performed according to the historical period of the ruler, during the years of who…
Półgrosz świdnicki: coin of Silesia for Poland (1517-1526)
PÓŁGROSZ ŚWIDNICKI: COIN OF SILESIA Półgrosz świdnicki, 1526: city of Świdnica (Silesia) Coin produced in the Silesian city of Świdnica (Bohemia) for use on the territory of Poland (with the aim of destabilizing money circulation). Ruler: Louis II …
Pulo: coin from Tver (Grand Duchy of Moscow)
PULO: COIN OF TVER Pulo, the beginning of the 16th century: Grand Duchy of Moscow (Tver) The Principality of Tver existed during 13th-15th centuries on the territory of modern Russia. It was one of the states established after the decay of the Kyiv…