Struck at the historic Vilnius Mint, this hammered billon coin features the heraldic eagle of Poland and the famed mounted knight of Lithuania, symbolizing the powerful union of the two states during the Renaissance era.
Coin Highlights:
- Issuer: Grand Duchy of Lithuania
- Ruler: Sigismund II Augustus
- Date: 1546
- Denomination: ½ Groschen (½ Groat)
- Grade: NGC XF 40
- Composition: Billon (.375 Silver)
- Weight: 1.35 Grams
- Diameter: 20 mm
- Thickness: 0.6 mm
- Mint: Vilnius Mint
- Reference: Kopicki 3238-3239
- Type: Hammered Medieval Coinage
- Obverse: Eagle with spread wings and royal titulature of Sigismund Augustus.
- Reverse: Lithuanian knight (Vytis) on horseback holding shield and sword with date below.
Historical Significance:
This coin was struck during the reign of Sigismund II Augustus, the final ruler of the Jagiellonian Dynasty. The Polish eagle and Lithuanian knight appearing together represent the close political relationship between Poland and Lithuania during the 16th century, one of the most influential periods in Eastern European history.
Produced at the Vilnius Mint, these fractional silver coins circulated widely throughout the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and played an important role in regional commerce. Their hand-struck production method resulted in distinctive irregular flans that are characteristic of medieval and Renaissance coinage.
Sigismund II Augustus (1520-1572) served as King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania during a period of political and cultural growth. He is best known for overseeing the events that led to the Union of Lublin in 1569, which formally created the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, one of Europe’s largest and most influential states.
As the last member of the Jagiellonian Dynasty, his reign marked both the height of dynastic power and the transition to a new era in Polish-Lithuanian history.
Collectibility:
The ½ Groschen series of Sigismund II Augustus is highly collectible among enthusiasts of Polish, Lithuanian, medieval, and hammered coinage. The combination of historic symbolism, hand-struck manufacture, and connection to one of Eastern Europe’s most important rulers makes these coins enduringly popular. Certified examples in NGC XF 40 are especially desirable due to their strong detail and historical appeal. Find more alike here!
