Livonia (16)49 solidus
This specimen was lot 3239 in Steve Album Auction 53 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $75. The catalog description[1] noted, "LIVONIA (SWEDISH): Christina, 1632-1654, AR solidus, Riga, [16]49, a lovely lustrous mint state example! PCGS graded MS63. Christina is remembered as one of the most erudite women of the 17th century, wanting Stockholm to become the "Athens of the North", and was given the special right to establish a university at will by the Peace of Westphalia. She is also remembered for her unconventional lifestyle and occasional adoption of masculine attire, which have been depicted frequently in media; gender and cultural identity are pivotal themes in many of her biographies." Solidi were struck for the duchy of Livonia ("SOLIDUS LIVONIAE", KM 2, shown here) and the city of Riga ("CIVI:RIG:", KM 21). Struck on roller dies, many of these have off-center reverses. Riga and Livonia were seized by Sweden from Poland in 1621 and retained by them until their loss to Russia in 1721.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 0.52 g, billon, 15 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-2, Haljak II-1425.
- Bjorne Ahlstrom, Yngve Almer and Bengt Hemmingson, Sveriges Mynt, 1521-1977, the Coinage of Sweden. Stockholm: Numismatika Bokforlaget AB, 1976.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Delzanno, Roberto, Myntårsboken 2022, Sveriges Mynt 995-2021, 1:a upplagen, Stockholm, 2021.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 53, featuring Selections from the Dr. Robert A. Rosenfeld, Almer H. Orr III, Dr. Dirk Loer and Joe Sedillot Collections, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2025.
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