The Lublin portrait groszy are a very rare issue— exceptional in the context of Sigismund III’s entire coinage—depicting the king without the insignia of his power: the crown!
Their issuance coincides with changes that were taking place at that time in this royal mint, a fact also reflected in the coins themselves.
This is the first type of these coins, distinguished by the absence of Reysner’s monogram on the reverse. They were most likely struck during the period when Hanusz Eck was in charge of the mint (serving as acting director, without signing them with his mark). After Melchior Reysner took over the mint, his monogram was first introduced on the coins, and then the design was completely changed to feature a crown on the grosz coins instead of the ruler’s portrait.
This type is characterized by a large number of very rare varieties. This specimen is a variant with the date in the rim at the bottom of the reverse and an erroneous title of the king—without the abbreviation of the word “Polski” (it reads D G REX _ M D L— King by the Grace of God, Grand Duke of Lithuania).
A nice, naturally circulated piece with its original luster preserved. Additionally illustrated in Jarosław Dutkowski’s grosz catalog.
The coin comes from an outstanding contemporary collection at Zbiór.com and is illustrated on its website.
Ex. Emporium 04.1991.
