Ladislaus IV of Poland, Thaler Thorn 1637 II

An early type of thaler with "IIII" in the title of the king. There is "IV" in later issues.

A characteristic mint mark above an angel's head, appearing only on some coins of the same year.

On the sides of the coat of arms, below the date, the initials of Jan Jacob Jacobson von Emden.

A very nice piece with nice luster.


Obverse: torso of the king in a crown and armor, facing right

VLADIS IIII • D: G • REX • ​​POL • ET • SVEC • M • D • L • RVS • PRVS •

Reverse: a figure of an angel supporting an oval cartouche with the city coat of arms, under the date initials II of Jacob Jacobson, administrator of the Thorn mint

• COIN • NOVA • ARGENT • CIVIT • THORVNENSIS •


During the reign of Ladislaus IV Vasa, the Thorn Mint minted only thalers and ducats, in accordance with the applicable restrictions on the issue of fine coins. In 1645, following the Danzig mint, Thorn started making occasional donations.

Despite the change of the ruler, the city was still under the agreement concluded during the reign of Sigismund III Vasa, under which Jan Jacob Jacobson was the mint manager. After Jacobson's death in 1639, the City Council recruited Melchior Schirmer in his place, whose father and brother were employed in the Danzig mint, and he himself gained extensive experience working as a criterion at the imperial mint in Glatz.