Stefan Batory (1576-1586), denarius 1582, mint Riga, RARE
COIN PRACTICALLY NOT FOUND IN THE AUCTION TRADE
silver, weight 0.39 grams, diameter 14 mm
Literature: Kopicki 8068 (R7), Kurpiewski 405 (R8), Tyszkiewicz 80 mk in gold
On November 28, 1561, the so-called Pact of Vilnius was signed by Archbishop William Hohenzollern of Riga, National Master Gottard Kettler, the Livonian states and King and at the same time Grand Duke of Lithuania Sigismund Augustus, subordinating Inflants as a fief of Lithuania. However, the city of Riga felt that this might not secure its interests and demanded that the city submit directly to the Crown. To which Sigismund Augustus agreed, establishing a 20-year period of freedom for the city, which had already expired under the rule of Poland's next king (the first elected), Stefan Batory. In view of the threat to Poland's eastern territories by Ivan the Terrible, the city fulfilled its submission to the authority of the Polish king, and this act was signed by Stefan Batory on January 15, 1581, securing, among other things, Riga the right to mint a coin with the royal image. And already that year the first "portrait" pennies and trojaks left the city's mint. The following year, the engraver prepared the stamp of Riga's smallest coin, the denarius, also with the image of the king and the city's coat of arms. As it later turned out, this was the only denarius minted in Riga as a fief city of Poland, in addition with a portrait of the king, and some researchers (Janusz Parchimowicz) consider it a trial issue. It is important to note the incredible craftsmanship of the 16th-century engraver, especially because of the very small size of the coin, about 14 mm and weighing 0.40 grams.
A RARITY ON THE NUMISMATIC MARKET.
At Polish auctions, two PDA listings from 2013 - the amount of 32,000 zlotys and DA Marciniak in 2019 31050 zlotys.
