Bohemian Prague Groschen

The Prague Groschen's introduction in 1300 under King Wenceslaus II made it the first groat in Central Europe, standardizing silver currency and easing trade across a fragmented region.

That innovation drew from Italian grosso designs, featuring a Bohemian lion on the obverse and a cross on the reverse, all struck on relatively pure silver planchets. Minted in Prague, these coins circulated widely, from Bohemia to parts of Germany and Poland, though exact export figures are lost to time. We know production peaked in the 1350s under Charles IV, but records from later decades are spotty, likely destroyed in various conflicts.

One curiosity: the groschen's size varied slightly, possibly due to inconsistent dies, which kept forgers busy. As for its end, circulation faded around 1400 as newer coins took over—much like how fashions change, even in metal.