Poland 1596 6 groszy
This specimen was lot 1128 in Steve Album Auction 51 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2025), where it sold for $390. The catalog description[1] noted, "POLAND: Zygmunt III Wasa, 1587-1632, AR 6 groschen, Malbork (Marienburg), 1596, light tone, very nice for these, PCGS graded AU58." The kingdom of Poland came under the rule of the king of Sweden, Sigismund III, in 1587. He converted to Roman Catholicism to accept the Polish crown, which caused the Swedish diet to depose him. He invaded Sweden in an attempt to reclaim his throne but was unsuccessful. The expenses of the war damaged and weakened the Polish monarchy, but the main source of Polish weakness was the greed and selfishness of the Polish nobility. This type was struck 1596-1601 and was called a szóstak.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 4.75 g, 0.844 fine silver, 28 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Kopicki-1240.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 51, featuring the Howard Daniel III Collection of Asian Coins, the Almer H. Orr III Collection of World Coins and the Joe Sedillot Collection of German Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2024.
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