The first crown penny of King Stephen, which is also one of the first Olkusz coins.
The 1579 penny, a coin minted a year after the opening of this mint. Located in Olkusz because of the silver mines from which the bullion for the production of the money was to come.
The issue has a distinctive reverse, found only on the first vintage of Olkusz pennies. The iconography (an eagle with the coat of arms of the Batory family on the chest) was inconsistent with the mint ordinance, which was to lead to changes in the management of the mint, about which T. Iger wrote as follows:
"Rafal Leszczynski, starosta of Radziejów, became the administrator of the Olkusz mint. His activity was short-lived, as the established iconographic form of coins was not fully implemented. All coins should bear the coats of arms of the Crown and Lithuania, the coat of arms of the king, as well as the coat of arms of the treasurer."
A later variety for this vintage with a large, broad head of the king.
A rare numismatic coin.
