Henryk IV Probus Grosz

This grosz, struck by Henryk IV Probus in Silesia, features one of the earliest depictions of a Polish ruler on a coin, showing the duke in a bold profile that hints at his ambitions.

That portrait, engraved on a silver planchet likely sourced from local mines, reflects the era's crude but effective minting techniques. Artisans hammered these coins by hand, resulting in irregular edges and varying weights—nothing like the precision we see today. It's a testament to medieval metallurgy without the romance.

We don't know the exact mintage figures; records from that time are scarce, probably lost to fires or wars. What we do have are a few surviving specimens, mostly found in hoards along trade routes.

As for myths, some claim it brought good luck in battles. I've handled enough to say that's nonsense—it's just metal and history.

Oh, and if you think it resembles a modern subway token, you're not alone, but that's the extent of the humor here.