The first vintage of Danzig ducats of Jan Kazimierz, minted in the year of his coronation as king of Poland.
Inaugurating a regular issue of gold coins of the main port city of the Republic, for which the stamps were prepared by two outstanding medalists of the era, Höhn the elder and the younger.
The ducat was struck at the mint under the management of Gerhard Rogge, with his initials on the sides of the cartouche.
A distinctive and rarer royal portrait of the later type, also found in the 1650 vintage.
Variety with double lion tails, with additional branches under palm leaves.
Obverse: bust of the king in armor and cloak, with the Order of the Golden Fleece on his chest, dividing the inscription with a crown. In the rim:
IOAN CAS D G R POL & SUEC M D L R P.
Reverse: two lions, with double tails, supporting an oval shield with the coat of arms of Gdansk, on a console. Palm leaves raised above the shield, with a five-leaved branch with three large leaves entering the inscription. Under the lions the initials G-R. In the rim:
MON AUREA CIVITATIS GEDANEN 1649.
