Courland (15)76 schilling
This specimen was lot 2797 in Steve Album Auction 54 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2026), where it sold for $35. The catalog description[1] noted, "LIVONIA: Courland & Semigallia: Gotthard Kettler, 1561-1587, BI schilling, Mitau, [15]76, XF. The Duchy of Courland and Semigallia was a duchy in the Baltic region, then known as Livonia, that existed from 1561 to 1569 as a nominal vassal state of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and subsequently made part of the Crown of the Polish Kingdom from 1569 to 1726." Like the Teutonic Knights, the Livonian Knights conquered extensive territories in the Baltic States in the Middle Ages and spent the ensuing centuries defending them from Swedes, Poles, Russians and Danes. Gotthard Kettler, the last commander, converted to Lutheranism in 1561 and seized the remaining lands as a duchy for himself and his heirs. This type was struck 1575-77. Many varieties exist in the legends.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.02 g, billon.
Catalog reference: Kop-4005, Fed-993, Neumann-299.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 54, featuring selections from the Kenneth A. Bovenkamp Collection of Ottoman Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2025.
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