Sigismund III Vasa Ort

Sigismund III Vasa's ort was often struck with dies that incorporated Swedish influences, a nod to his dual throne that irritated Polish mint masters.

This silver coin, minted between 1587 and 1632, served as everyday currency in Poland's bustling trade networks, from Baltic ports to distant markets. Its design typically featured the king's portrait on one side and a coat of arms on the other, though variations depended on the mint. We know some were produced in Warsaw, but exact figures for other locations vanished in archival fires long ago.

The ort's metal came from European silver sources, possibly including recycled foreign coins, but that's speculative. Counterfeits were common, which kept me busy as a dealer.

Planchets were sometimes irregular, leading to coins that wobbled like a poorly balanced scale.