On assuming the throne, King Stefan had to face not only the opposing city of Gdansk, but also the monetary chaos that followed the reign of Sigismund Augustus and the long interregnum. As early as 1578, he introduced a new minting ordinance, which provided for the minting of denominations ranging from the ducat, through thalers, half-talers, trojacks, to pennies and shekels. In 1580, he expanded the law to include sixpences, half-pennies and denarii. In reality, however, its minting was dominated by trojaks and shekels, and denominations higher than sixpence, inclusive, are today very rare coins. This was also due to the catching and remelting in successive reigns of his better in terms of silver content coins.
One of the few thalers of this king appearing on the market are thalers from the Nagybanyi mint.
This issue is most likely the result of a loan taken for war needs by Batory in his native country, which was paid to him not in coinage there, but in coinage struck under his stamp - as King of Poland.
The present coin is a very nice representative of the first vintage of their minting.
Beautiful obverse. On the reverse a trace of a stuck scratch, otherwise very good relief. Preserved rare for these thalers beautiful background luster.
Silver, diameter 40.5 mm, weight 28.77 g.
