Danzig (1577) c/m noble

from Steve Album sale 45, lot 1576

This specimen was lot 1576 in Stephen Album sale 45 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2023), where it sold for $10,200. The catalog description^[1] noted,

"POLAND: DANZIG: Countermarked Siege Issue, April-December 1577, AV noble, civic coat of arms countermarked on the obverse of AV noble of Edward IV of England (S-1951), small flan crack in center, light scratches, VF on VF host, RRR. In May 1576, Stefan Bathory, the Voivode of Transylvania, was chosen as the King of Poland after marrying Anna Jagiello, the heir to the Jagiellonian Dynasty. The city of Danzig (Gdansk) refused to recognize the new Polish king and instead supported the claim of the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian II. Even after the latter's death in October, the city still withheld its recognition and used it as leverage to restore its former privileges, which were reduced under the previous Jagiellonian king. The resulting conflict saw the Danzig forces (including a Scottish mercenary regiment) utterly defeated in April 1577, forcing them to retreat behind the city walls. During the ensuing six-month siege, Danzig countermarked an unknown number of foreign coins in order to supplement its struck coinage. While most of the gold coins originated from various Central and Eastern European states, only a handful of English hosts are known to exist. (For a similar example, see Künker Auction 346, Lot 580). Unable to penetrate the Danzig's extensive fortifications, Bathory forgave the city's rebellion in December and restored some of its privileges in exchange for its recognition and monetary reparations."

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specifications: gold, this specimen 7.49 g.

Catalog reference: Dutkowski/Suchanek-123.

Sources:

• ^[1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 45, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2022.

Link to:

• Danzig 1577 thaler Dav-8453
• Coins and currency dated 1577