Lot #179: Extremely Old and Rare Poland ca. 1622 Three Polker (One Kruzierz) silver billon coin - over 400 years old!

Obverse shows the quartered arms of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, with two Spread Eagles (symbol of Poland) and two “Vytis” or charging knight on horseback (symbol of Lithuania). On Breast Shield is sheaf of wheat (symbol of the Wasa family dynasty, to which King Sigismund III belonged). Legend reads “SIGIS. 3. D.G. REX P. M. D. L.” (“Sigismundus III, Dei Gratia Rex Poloniae Magnus Ducatus Lithuaniae”) (“Sigismund III, by grace of Gods King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania”). The number “3” in shield is value of Three Poltarak, or Porter. Reverse shows Globus Cruciger (orb with cross, symbol of secular and ecclesiastical authority). The large number “24” in the orb is value of one twenty-fourth of a Thaler. The number “1” is value of one Kruzierz. The date is expressed in divided half-style form. The first two digits (“16”) are omitted entirely. The small number “2” at the top left of the orb is the third digit, indicating the 1620s. The fourth digit, almost illegible, but seemingly also a “2”, is at the top right of the orb, together indicating the date 1622. The reverse legend is “MONE. NO. REG. POL.” (“Moneta Nova Regni Poloniae”) (“New Money of the Kingdom of Poland”). Issued under King Sigismund III (1566-1632), who was elected King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1587, ruling until his death in 1632. He was also Catholic King of Sweden from 1592 until his deposition in 1599. Dimensions: Silver Billon. 1.1 grams. 20 mm. Pickup category timeslot {A}