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Szóstak / 6 Groszy - Sigismund III Vasa Bydgoszcz mint
| Issuer | Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth |
|---|---|
| Year | 1596-1603 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | 26 mm |
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| Reverse description | Central field bears a large crowned coat of arms of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, flanked by the denomination numeral VI to the left and I to the right. Below the shield, the mint master's initials and mintmark appear in the lower field, with the date partially incorporated into the legend. A multiline Latin inscription referencing the silver groschen denomination and the Kingdom of Poland fills the central area, all within a beaded border. |
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| Reverse lettering | V-I GROSS. ARG. .SEXD .REGN . POLONIA 96 I-F S-C H-R |
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| Additional information |
The szóstak was introduced to Polish coinage in 1528 under Sigismund I as a practical denomination bridging the gap between the grosz and the larger talar. By Sigismund III's reign, Bydgoszcz had become one of the Commonwealth's primary minting centers, operating under lease arrangements with private mint masters whose profit motives frequently led to gradual debasement — a chronic complaint lodged by merchants and the Sejm alike throughout the 1590s.
Kopicki references 1238 through 1252 span multiple annual varieties, with differences in crown shape and ornamentation distinguishing individual die pairings across the run.