Prussia 1531 groschen

Stack's Bowers September 2024 Collectors Choice sale, lot 75359

This specimen was lot 75359 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2024), where it sold for $264. The catalog description^[1] noted, "POLAND. Prussia. Groschen, 1531. Sigismund I. NGC MS-63. A well-centered strike with full outer rims intact. Satiny surfaces offer a hint of champagne on otherwise argent-gray toning. Slight weakness in the center of both the obverse and reverse, but less than is typical for the type. Attractive." 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 1528-35 and should probably be filed under Poland, as the margrave of Prussia struck his own groschen.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 2.06 g, silver.

Catalog reference: Kopicki-3086.

Source:

• Cuhaj, George S., Thomas Michael and Douglas Nicol, Standard Catalog of German Coins, 1501-Present, 3rd Ed. Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2011.
• ^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, September 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.

Link to:

• Prussia 1530 groschen Sigismund
• Prussia 1535 groschen Albrecht
• Coins and currency dated 1531