Rare 1639 Danzig thaler of Ladislaus IV Vasa, in a rarer variety with a large bust of the king.
An item in the trade appearing sporadically and sought after by collectors.
A nice, above-average preserved piece. Obverse deficient in portrait, moved by circulation, but still with plenty of fresh background. Reverse very well preserved with a clear mirror.
The distinctive thaler of Ladislaus IV Vasa with a large bust is invariably associated with a rare coin. Offered not quite rare, it is nice and pleasing to look at. A healthy, lively piece that will undoubtedly grace a collection.
Obverse: bust of the king to the right, wearing a crown and armor, with the Order of the Golden Fleece on his chest and a lace collar
VLAD IIII D G REX POL ET SVE M D LIT RVS PRVS
Reverse: two lions supporting an oval shield of the city of Danzig, in the cartouche below the shield the date 1939, on the sides initials G-R Gerhard Rogge
COIN ARGENTEA CIVITATIS GEDANENSIS
Diameter 44 mm, weight 28.61 g
During the reign of Ladislaus IV, a ban on minting small coinage, enacted back in the days of his predecessor, was in effect. It covered both state and municipal mints. Thus, the crown mints in Bydgoszcz, and then from 1644 in Cracow, minted only half-talars, thalers, ducats and multiples thereof. The mint production of the Prussian cities of Gdansk, Torun and Elblag was similar. The Lithuanian mint was not working at the time. An exception was a trial portugal minted in 1640. A trial series of trojaks, sixpences and orts was also prepared by the Bydgoszcz mint in 1635. In addition to the above-mentioned issues, the minting of Wladyslaw Vasa also includes the kopecks b. d. from the time when Prince Wladyslaw was elected tsar of Moscow and the three-crashers of the Duchy of Opole-Racibor from 1647.
