medieval coins

PIPIN III. (751 - 768), tin replica of a Frankish coin. Hand casted with patina. Size: approx. 1.7 cm in a diameter.

Matthias Corvinus (1458 - 1490), Denarius, tin replica of a Hungarian coin. Hand casted with patina. Size: approx. 2.8 cm in a diameter.

OTTO (962 - 973), tin replica of a Frankish coin. Hand casted with patina. Size: approx. 2.3 cm in a diameter.

MARIA (1342 - 1382), Denarius, tin replica of a Hungarian coin. Hand casted with patina. Size: approx. 2.8 cm in a diameter.

The rare Ducat of von Wallenstein from 1628 bears an unusual year on the reverse, 628. It seems that the engraver of the coin die erred in designing the type and there was not enough space for the missing figure 1. Von Wallensteins goldThe commencement of minting of the coins of von Wallenstein resulted from the dukes conceited effort to equal other aristocrats of the Kingdom of Bohemia who possessed the regalia to mint coins. Profit from minting was not the primary motivation as von Wallenstein had grown immensely rich in issuing devalued governmental money in association with de Witte, which resulted in the destruction of the Czech currency, total economic disruption of the country and, subsequently, declaration of the state bankrupt in 1623. He literally wrote about the reasons for minting his own coins: Rather than for any benefit, I am doing it for reputation. Lacking in rich gold fields, von Wallenstein minted his Ducats from low-quality coins of others that he had withdrawn from circulation and reminted, and also by reusing jewellery.

Material: Brass. Weight: g, Size: 21 mm.

Material: Silver .999, Weight: 0,6 g, Size: 37 mm.

Medieval town, two busts facing each under Romanic vault. Above bishop figure facing between two steeples, holding the crosier and cross scepter. CIVI PRAG in exergue. History: Founded in the latter part of the 9th century, Prague soon became the seat of the kings of Bohemia, some of whom later reigned also as emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. The city flourished during the 14th century reign of Charles IV, who ordered the building of the New City, the Charles Bridge, Saint Vitus Cathedral, the oldest gothic cathedral in central Europe and actually inside the Castle, and the Charles University, the oldest university in central Europe north of the Alps. Prague was then the third-largest city in Europe.

Material: Brass. Size: 21 mm

The Florin was the first Czech golden coin, minted since 1325. The minting of Czech Florins was rather a representative issue as Bohemia lacked larger resources of gold. The high quality of the Florins caused them to disappear from circulation – the coins were melted down, hidden away, or disappeared into foreign lands. The most frequently used coin in Bohemia was therefore the silver Prague grosch. The exchange rate was 16 Prague grosches to one Florin, which weighted approximately 3.53 grams with 990/1000 fineness. The minting of King Johns florins is mentioned in the Zbraslav Chronicle of Petr Žitavský. It says that in 1325 the work related to the minting of golden coins was initiated in Prague under the supervision of Lombardy (Florence – hence the name florin). The image on the Czech florins is very much the same as on their Italian models – golden coins of Florence bearing the heraldic lily on the face side and the figure of St. John the Baptist on the reverse side. The Czech origin of the coins can be distinguished only by the abbreviated face inscription JOHANNES REX BOEMIE.

Material: Copper, Weight: 1,9 g, Size: 21 mm

A Seal of the Knights Templar, with their famous image of two knights on a single horse, a symbol of their early poverty.

The half Groschen minted on the English model depicting the kings bust, front. It is assumed based on the style of the coin portrait that the coin dies were created by an engraver from Northern Italy. The half Groschen was minted only during the reign of John the Blind, probably at the beginning of his reign in Bohemia. Some believe that the minting of this coin refers to Johns coronation as Czech king in 1311 or they may be mere trial samples. The kings bust was replaced by a depiction of the royal crown on the later, so-called Czech type coin (about 25 pieces have been preserved). Even fewer English type half Groschens have been preserved (5 to 6 pieces), and they are therefore very rare today. It seems that the half Groschen did not win popularity, the minting was discontinued and the coins withdrawn from circulation.

Material: Aluminum. Size: 21 mm.

Material: Aluminium. Weight: 1,9 g. Size: 21 mm

A Seal of the Knights Templar, with their famous image of two knights on a single horse, a symbol of their early poverty.

Material: Brass. Size: 21 mm.

IODOCVS : DEI GRACIA : Margrave standing facing, holding standard. A R in field. R: + MARCHIO : ET : DOMIN : MORAVIE Moravian blazon in field. It is very likely that there exist only two pieces of the disputable and unique Ducat of margrave of Moravia, Jobst. Disputes are still ongoing as to whether they are genuine coins or 19th century forgeries. However, the obverse of the coin carries a very trustworthy depiction of the margrave in purely Gothic style. Jobst reinstated the Brno mint and minted his own coins throughout his reign, including the limited issue of this Ducat. Jobst (Latin IODOCUS) of Luxembourg, Moravian margrave from the Luxembourg dynasty, Elector of Brandenburg, Roman king, the first-born son of margrave John Henry, the younger brother of Charles IV and Margaret of Opava. Jobst was a very able and skilled politician who ambitiously coveted more power and wealth and did not hesitate to change parties and opinions in the interest of his own goals. Together with his brothers, he strongly interfered with affairs of the Czech kingdom under the rule of their cousin Wenceslas IV. Jobst opposed the latter as candidate in the election of king of the Holy Roman Empire in 1410. The election was taking place in a situation where the earlier elected, crowned and in 1400 dethroned Roman king Wenceslas IV was still alive. The electors elected Sigismund as Roman king in September 1410. However, as he failed to receive the required number of votes, the election was repeated on October 1 and the electors voted for Jobst. But the latter enjoyed the title of Roman king briefly, from October 1, 1410 to January 18, 1411 as he died at Spilberk castle in Brno.

Material: Brass. Size: 20 mm.

Gold Solidus of Byzantine Emperor Michael III, a find from grave No. 480 near the three-naved basilica in Mikulcice (Czech Republic). During the minority of Michael III, the empire was for the most part governed by his mother Theodora. From 856, the year in which her brother had ordered the murder of the minister Theoktistos and Theodora was forced to resign, the regency was assumed by commander Bardas, who was also entitled Caesar. Rastislav, a duke of Great Moravia, dispatched a message to Emperor Michael III in 862 with a request to send priests who would conduct divine services in the Slavonic language and lay the foundations of a proper church in Great Moravia. Although the population of Great Moravia had already acquainted itself with the church teaching of missionaries from the Kingdom of the East Franks, duke Rastislav feared the political and religious influence of German tribes and had the Latin speaking priests expelled from the country. Cyril and Methodius were chosen for the mission thanks to their knowledge of the language. As part of the preparation, Cyril devised an alphabet for the Slavonic language – the Glagolitsa – and together with his brother Methodius translated the liturgical books needed for divine services to old church Slavonic. After the assassination of Bardas in 865, Basileios (an Armenian stable hand by origin) became a co-ruler with Michael III but he also had his co-emperor and friend assassinated on September 23, 867, and became the founder of a new dynasty.

Material: Brass. Size: 22 mm.

The imperial Ducat of Charles IV coined after 1355. Unlike those of other European rulers, the Ducats of Charles IV were coined in only a small quantity due to the limited gold resources in the Jilove and Kasperske Hory gold ore mines. It is therefore a very precious Czech coin today. The obverse of the Ducat bears an authentic bust of the Bohemian king and Roman emperor Charles IV with the imperial insignia – the crown jewels.The Ducat, minted from almost pure gold, was the highest coin of the Gothic period and mostly served as legal tender only in international trade. Paradoxically, the quality of the Prague Groschen was declining in spite of the immense economic and political rise of Bohemia. The content of silver in the Groschen decreased to mere 75% by the end of the reign of Charles IV, while the first Prague Groschens contained about 93% silver when first introduced in 1300.

Material: Aluminum. Size: 27 mm.

The spread of the Prague Groschen culminated under Ladislaus Jagiellon. A vast quantity of silver coins were minted during the almost fifty years of his reign, not only Groschens, but also their parts. The weight of Ladislaus Groschen ranged between 2.3 and 3 grams and the content of silver in the coin was about one half of its weight. Ladislaus Jagiellon tends to be rated as one of the weakest Czech monarchs as his reign resulted in a major decline in royal power. However, he achieved a major success in dynastic politics as he was elected and crowned Hungarian king in spite of the intentions of the Krakow court ruled by his father Casimir IV Jagiellon. His mother was Elisabeth of Austria, sister of Ladislaus the Posthumous.

Material: Aluminum. Size: 40 mm.

During the reign of Rudolf II, prominent artists of the emperors Prague court, especially A. Abondio, contributed to the high artistic quality of coins and medals. No important changes in the area of coin quality occurred during Rudolfs reign. Only the small Groschen, the only one bearing a value designation in the Czech language, was added to the existing coins. Support for science and art was the emperors passion. Many artists, alchemists, astronomers and astrologers stayed at Rudolfs court, including the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe and the German Johannes Kepler. Rudolf regarded himself more as a scholar and artist than a ruler. His buyers travelled the whole of Europe, buying all the major works of art of the time. Unfortunately, the theft of Rudolfs collections began immediately after the emperors death; the members of the Habsburg family divided one part among themselves and another part was carried to Sweden as war booty in 1648.

Material: Aluminum. Size: 20 mm.

Bohemian and Polish king Wenceslas II performed a monetary reform in 1300, whereby he provided the land with a stable coin – the Prague Groschen. Thus, the monarchs Bracteates are the last Bohemian Bracteates. The history of the Bracteates: In 1210 king Ottokar I abandoned the minting of traditional Denarii due to their considerable devaluation at the time and had a new coin minted – the Bracteate (from the Latin bractea – a thin piece of metal). The Bracteate was a single-sided coin minted from a very thin piece of metal, mostly silver and exceptionally gold or copper. These Bracteates were struck on the model of the Meissen ones and Ottokar I had them minted because of the massive inflow of the Miessen Bracteates, South German Hellers and Viennese Pfennigs to the Czech lands in connection with the colonisation wave. Attempting to restore validity of his regalia to mint coins, the Czech king was issuing coins the people could have confidence in. Thus, a reliable coin was introduced once again with a nominal value nearly equal to the value of the metal it contained.

Material: Aluminum. Size: 20 mm.

Bohemian and Polish king Wenceslas II performed a monetary reform in 1300, whereby he provided the land with a stable coin – the Prague Groschen. Thus, the monarchs Bracteates are the last Bohemian Bracteates. The history of the Bracteates: In 1210 king Ottokar I abandoned the minting of traditional Denarii due to their considerable devaluation at the time and had a new coin minted – the Bracteate (from the Latin bractea – a thin piece of metal). The Bracteate was a single-sided coin minted from a very thin piece of metal, mostly silver and exceptionally gold or copper. These Bracteates were struck on the model of the Meissen ones and Ottokar I had them minted because of the massive inflow of the Miessen Bracteates, South German Hellers and Viennese Pfennigs to the Czech lands in connection with the colonisation wave. Attempting to restore validity of his regalia to mint coins, the Czech king was issuing coins the people could have confidence in. Thus, a reliable coin was introduced once again with a nominal value nearly equal to the value of the metal it contained.

Material: Aluminum. Size: 40 mm.

The artistic design places this very rare Thaler from the Olomouc mint among the most beautiful works of European coin art of the 17th century. Apart from silver coins, the 10-Ducat, 5-Ducat and the unique 25-Ducat coins were minted using the same coin dies. A trihedron with a twisting grape vine and the Moravian eagle with the type UNIO TE STANTE VIREBO (You Will Stand Strong With Me) are depicted on the coins of the Moravian estates. The minting of the Moravian estates was discontinued after defeat in the battle of White Mountain through an ordinance by Ferdinand II of December 15, 1620, and the coins were withdrawn from circulation.

Material: Aluminum. Size: 41 mm.

Unissued Thaler of von Wallenstein: The coin dies for the first Thalers of von Wallenstein were most likely supplied by K. Engelhardt, engraver of the Prague mint. He engraved (allegedly twice) a portrait of von Wallenstein in such an unsightly manner that the provincial Frydlant hauptmann Taxis did not dare to use the coin dies for minting and preferred to commission new dies from an anonymous Moravian engraver. The first rare Thalers of von Wallenstein, about 2,000 of which were minted in 1626, bore a type on the reverse reading DOMINUS PROTECTOR MEUS. However, the epigraph was used without von Wallensteins awareness, and after seeing the samples, von Wallenstein had it replaced by his familys epigraph INVITA INVIDIA (Against Envy). Yet he changed his mind just two days later, in favour of a type reading SACRI ROMANI IMPERII PRINCEPS, which he thought better expressed his prominent position in the empire. Although it is often mentioned that the epigraph INVITA INVIDIA was used on von Wallensteins coins, this is not the case. It appears that Thalers with such a type have never been minted.

Material: Aluminum. Size: 27 mm.

The Prague Groschen is a famous Bohemian silver coin first struck in Kutna Hora in 1300 by king Wenceslas II based on a coinage reform with the involvement of Italian financiers. It is possible, according to some experts, that it was originally minted in Prague (hence its name), but the minting was soon transferred to Kutna Hora. The coin bears a depiction of the Czech royal crown and the monarch s name on the obverse and the Czech lion on the reverse, which remained unchanged for the almost two hundred and fifty years of its minting. The type reads GROSSI PRAGENSES (for some unclear reason in plural). As opposed to the preceding Denarii and Bracteates, which were relatively lightweight (approx. 1g), the new coin was heavier (originally about 3.8 g). It was accordingly referred to as denarius grossus = heavy Denarius, which gave rise to the name GROS (Groschen). About half a billion Prague Groschens were minted in Kutna Hora itself during the almost quarter of a millennium of minting.