1 Groat - Sigismund II Augustus Early bust

Sigismund II Augustus ruled Lithuania and Poland at a moment of acute monetary disorder — multiple competing mints, debased coinages from neighboring states flooding markets, and constant pressure from the Sejm to reform the system. The groat issues of this period were struck across at least two Lithuanian mints, Vilnius being primary, with die work varying considerably across the span of these reference numbers. The Kopicki listings alone differentiate five varieties within this type, suggesting meaningful die changes rather than trivial punctuation differences.

These early-bust emissions preceded the 1569 Union of Lublin, when Lithuanian coinage retained a distinct administrative identity from the Polish issues struck in parallel.