Horses
Poland/Lithuania - Half Grosz

Owner Comments:

Purchased on 7/13/2013.

This coin was minted during the time of informal union of the empires of Poland and Lithuania. It was minted during the reign of Sigismund I the Old (Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland). He would die one year later, and his son Sigismund II would take the throne.

OBVERSE: The obverse of the coin bears the text [* MONETA * MAGNI * DUCAT 9 LITVA] along with the Lithuanian coat of arms symbolism of a knight on horseback (Vytis).

REVERSE: The reverse bears the text [* SIGIS * AVG * REX * PO * MAG * DVX * LI] translated as "Sigisimund Augustus, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania". This side of the coin bears the very old heraldic eagle, a part of the original Piast Dynasty coat of arms dating to 992, and still today a part of the official coat of arms of Poland.