A distinctive variety of the crown thaler of Sigismund III Vasa, featuring the Półkozic coat of arms within the obverse legend and the concluding portion of the royal titulature reading RVS PRVS MAS. In Jan Dostych’s catalogue, this variety is assigned a rarity rating of R4.
The coin was struck at the Bydgoszcz mint, which at the time was the most important centre for the production of large silver coins in the Polish Crown. The Półkozic coat of arms depicted on the coin belonged to Hermolaus Ligęza, Grand Treasurer of the Crown from 1624 to 1632, who was responsible for treasury administration and the supervision of the Crown mints.
The initials I–I flanking the coat of arms refer to Jakub Jacobson van Emden, a minting entrepreneur of Dutch origin and manager of the Bydgoszcz mint. Jacobson did not serve as an assayer but was responsible for managing the mint’s operations.
An attractive specimen with a clearly defined portrait of the monarch, elaborate heraldic imagery and well-preserved peripheral legends.
An interesting and scarcer variety of the Bydgoszcz thaler of Sigismund III Vasa, distinguished by the Półkozic coat of arms and the RVS PRVS MAS legend variant.
Obverse: half-length portrait of the king with a commander's sash, in armour, right, holding a sword and an orb of rule, on his chest the Order of the Golden Fleece
SIGIS III DG REX POL M (Półkozic) D LIT RVS PRVS MAS (ornamental cross)
Reverse: crowned, nine-field coat of arms shield, surrounded by a chain with the Order of the Golden Fleece, at the bottom the Półkozic coat of arms ( of the treasurer Hermolaus Ligęza) , on the sides the initials I - I (warden of Jakub Jacobson) and the date 16 - 28
SAM LIV NEC NO SVE (Order of the Golden Fleece) GOT VAD Q HRI REX (ornamental cross)
Diameter 41 mm, weight 28.68 g
