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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,101 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3939 Posts |
This coin weighs 3.0 grams and has a diameter of about 28 millimeters. I cannot make out any specific words, unfortunately, and most of the letters are worn/ clipped. Although the imagery seems fairly distinctive I cannot locate a match. Any help would be greatly appreciated.  
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Pillar of the Community
Poland
3201 Posts |
I think it says GROSSI PRAGENSES around the lion and DEI GRATIA REX BOEMIE on the other side. I suppose the inner legend would have the ruler's name WINCEZLAVS... (or something similar). It would mean it's a Bohemian coin.
Edited by DL20K 10/12/2016 11:16 am
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
662 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Poland
3201 Posts |
And here's what might be the second word in the inner circle around the crown: TERCIVS (the third). Compare the position of visible letters on your specimen with this old e-bay image which I enlarged: 
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Valued Member
Lithuania
363 Posts |
Catalogue of Lithuanian half-groats 1495-1529 http://goccf.com/t/282866
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3939 Posts |
Coin forum, many thanks! I need to brush up on my medieval lettering.
I apologize, I guess that is a lion not a griffon.
Edited by oriole 10/12/2016 5:22 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3939 Posts |
Coin forum, just one further question:
Why is the coin enscribed Wenzelaus tercius (the third) when it is a coin of what history records as Wenzeslaus IV?
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Moderator

Australia
13487 Posts |
Differences in counting usually arise from differences between actual history and official history. In this case, the king we now call Wenceslaus III was the uncrowned son of Wenceslaus II, who ruled Bohemia for just over one year before being assassinated. He apparently either issued no coins, or issued coins only in the name of his late father. When the king we call Wencesalus IV came to power sixty years later, he seems to have conveniently forgotten (or perhaps even been unaware) that the previous Wenceslaus III had ever existed.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Valued Member
Lithuania
363 Posts |
Wenceslaus III (1305-1306) was formal ruler of Bohemia, but he was assassinated in Olomouc, 04-06-1306 before his coronation.
Catalogue of Lithuanian half-groats 1495-1529 http://goccf.com/t/282866
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3939 Posts |
Too unimportant to count at the time, but later history is more generous. Makes sense.
Well, being royal was rough in those days, but they had real power if they could grab it.
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,101 |
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