Poland (16)23 3 polker
This specimen was lot 73173 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2023), where it sold for $80. The catalog description[1] noted, "POLAND. Livonia. 3 Polker, 1623. Bydgoszcz Mint. Sigismund III. NGC MS-62. A charming Mint State example with a moderate strike and light gray toning." This coin states "3" on the front and "24" on the reverse, which we presume to mean 1/24 thaler. A 1/24 thaler, or groschen, should weigh about 1.16 g if made of good silver. This type was struck 1614-29, most with two digit dates, as here, and has a very low catalog value. Very similar coins were struck in Riga, which state "MONE·NOV:CIVI:RIGE·*" on the orb side. Those circulated in Livonia. The German name for the city of Bydgoszcz was Bromberg.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 0.85 g, silver, this specimen 0.97 g.
Catalog reference: KM-41.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, May 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Featuring the Richard Elliott Collection of Hooknecks, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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