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1 Solidus - Friedrich and Wilhelm Kettler Mitau, type 1
| Issuer | Duchy of Courland and Semigallia |
|---|---|
| Year | 1596-1601 |
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| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
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|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | Central field depicts a rampant lion passant to the right, representing the heraldic arms of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, rendered in a vigorous, somewhat stylised manner typical of hammered billon coinage of this period. The lion occupies the majority of the flan, with its raised forepaw and curled tail clearly articulated. A circular Latin legend, separated by pellet stops, runs along the periphery and identifies the issuing authority. The reverse is framed by a beaded inner border. |
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| Additional information |
Courland's solidus coinage of this period reflects the joint rule that followed Gotthard Kettler's death in 1587, when his sons Friedrich and Wilhelm inherited the duchy under an arrangement that left both nominally in charge — a dynastic awkwardness that persisted until Wilhelm's eventual expulsion by the Polish-Lithuanian Sejm in 1616. Billon issues from small Baltic duchies of this decade circulated primarily as petty change within the local economy, and Mitau's output was modest enough that surviving examples in decent condition are genuinely scarce.