Augustus II Strong Half-Ducat

Augustus II's half-ducat was one of the few gold coins issued in Poland that directly referenced his military campaigns, with designs incorporating symbols of victory from the Great Northern War.

Weighing about 1.7 grams and struck in 22-karat gold, these pieces were minted in Dresden under his oversight as both king and elector. The obverse typically bore his armored bust, a nod to his reputation for strength, while the reverse showed the Polish eagle. Production spanned his reign, though exact years varied by mint.

Records are spotty; we know some were recycled from foreign imports, but the total mintage remains a mystery, lost to history's fires and wars. That said, they circulated widely in trade routes.

Don't expect these to bend like the horseshoes he famously twisted.