Poland 1816-IB 5 zlotych
This specimen was lot 1891 in Jean Elsen sale 165 (Brussels, June 2026), where it sold for €480 (about US$661 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"POLOGNE, occupation russe, Alexandre Ier (1815-1825), AR 5 zlotych, 1816 IB, Varsovie. D/ T. nue du Tsar à d. R/ Aigle russo-polonais couronné. Fines griffes au droit. Très Beau. (Poland, Russian occupation, Alexander I, 1815-25, silver five złotych of 1816, Warsaw mint. Obverse: bare head of the tsar right; reverse: crowed Russo-Polish eagle. Hairlines on the obverse, Very Fine.)"
This type was struck for Poland 1816-18 in substantial numbers altho it is not common today. In 1829, it was superseded by KM C116. After the revolt of 1831, the regime dropped all pretense of respecting Polish liberties and embarked on an intensive (tho fruitless) program of Russification. Russian coinage for Poland ended in 1841 altho the Warsaw mint remained operating until the 1850's. Varieties exist.
Recorded mintage: 971,230.
Specification: 15.59 g, 0.868 fine silver, 32 mm diameter, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: KM C100, Kopicki 2704; Gum. 2521; Bitkin 825.
- Bitkin, Vladimir, Composite Catalogue of Russian Coins, Part II (1740-1917), Kiev: Moneta, 2003.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Elsen, Philippe, et al., Vente Publique 165, Brussels: Jean Elsen et ses Fils S.A., 2026.
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