A very rare three-groschen coin from the most interesting year in the history of this mint—a year marked by changes, upheavals, and the deaths of two of its directors.
As the author of the monograph on the Royal Mint in Olkusz emphasizes, the year 1580 was a watershed year for the mint, during which the definitive style of an entire series of coins gradually took shape. This is particularly evident on the trojaks, where the royal effigy, the presence of coats of arms, borders, and denomination markings all undergo changes.
This is a very rare variety featuring a small head of the king (without a border) and the Glaubicz coat of arms beneath the initials “IR.” It was struck before July 13, 1580, prior to the death of the mint’s administrator, Jakub Rokossowski.
Traces of manipulation on the fish’s head and lighter marks near the “PO” in “POLONI” (a trace of a mounting?). Good detail. Patina of an old collection.
In the company’s history to date, we have had this variety only twice (most recently in 2021), but never with a title ending in “POLONI.”
