Sigismund III Vasa, Groschen 1597, Poznań – rare and very nice
A distinctive groschen of Sigismund III Vasa struck at the Poznań mint with the mint mark “a sprig with three berries” (of Jan Dittmar—the leaseholder of the Poznań mint) in the rim on the obverse.
Obverse: A bust of the king wearing a crown. The rim bears an inscription divided at the top by a crown and at the bottom by the mint mark “a sprig with three berries” (of Jan Dittmar—leaseholder of the Poznań Mint): SIGISM III D G – REX PO M D L
Reverse: Beneath the crown, shields bearing the coats of arms of Poland and Lithuania (the Crowned Eagle and Pogoń). Below, a shield bearing the Vasa coat of arms with the abbreviated date 9–7 on either side of the shield. Inthe rim, an inscription divided at the top by a crown and at the bottom by shields bearing the Lewart coat of arms (of Jan Firlej—Grand Crown Treasurer) and the mint mark “Rose” (of Hermann Rüdiger—manager of the Poznań mint): GROSSVS – RE – GN POLO
The mint mark “a sprig with three berries” divides the rim inscription on the obverse, while the Lewart coat of arms and the “Rose” mint mark within the shield divide the rim inscription on the obverse.
Obverse and reverse within borders. The inner borders are cord-patterned, and the outer borders are beaded.
A variant featuring the inscription SIGISM … M D L in the border on the obverse and … POLO in the border on the reverse.
A variant with a sphere beneath the crown on the reverse.
Condition: 2-/2
For this type, a very well-struck and beautifully preserved piece. Good detail. Luster and plenty of mint mirror finish. Charming patina. In this condition, the coin is rare and hard to find on the collectors’ market.
We recommend
Metal: silver
Weight: 1.56 g
References: Kopicki 744 (R5), Dutkowski as 95b (R5), Kopicki (MZIIIW) as 209 (R5), Kamiński/Kurpiewski 285 (R4), Tyszkiewicz 15 mk
