Bolesław V the Chaste Denar

This denar from Bolesław V's reign features a distinctive Piast eagle on the obverse, a symbol that persisted through Poland's medieval upheavals.

Struck in the Cracow mint, these coins were likely produced on irregular planchets hammered from whatever silver scraps were available, reflecting the era's economic strains. Bolesław, known for his austere rule, probably authorized them to fund his campaigns against regional rivals. The reverse typically shows a simple cross, emphasizing the duke's ties to the Church.

Exact mintage figures are lost to history; records from that period often burned in later conflicts. Still, surviving examples suggest production ramped up after 1250, as Bolesław consolidated power.

Some numismatists note the irony that, for a ruler called "the Chaste," his coins were frequently clipped or worn down by circulation.