A very nice three-grosz coin from the famous 1580 issue of Olkusz three-grosz coins.
The coin features a very attractive relief, showing only slight signs of circulation, and an old wear pattern on the obverse, now concealed by a drawer-like patina.
This is a type featuring the distinctive Glaubicz coat of arms beneath the king’s bust, which appeared for only half a year in the entire history of our coinage. This is the coat of arms of Jakub Rokossowski, who was appointed Grand Treasurer of the Crown on January 5, 1580, and held that office until his death (July 13 of that year).
As the author of the monograph on the Crown Mint in Olkusz emphasizes, the year 1580 was a watershed year for its coinage, during which the definitive style of an entire series of coins gradually took shape. This is particularly evident on the trojaks, where the royal effigy, the presence of coats of arms, the borders, and the denomination markings all undergo changes. All of them are now classified as rare or very rare coins.
This is a variant featuring a large head of the king (a rarer subtype with a dotted beard) above the Glaubicz coat of arms, with the denomination (III) but without the king’s family coat of arms.
