Poland, King Sigismund III, Silver 3 Polker

These late medieval three polker coins were issued during the reign of Sigismund III Vasa, who ruled as the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1587 to 1632. They were struck to address the financial crisis and rising inflation due to the 30 Years War. Three polker coins were minted with a relatively high silver content with purity in the early years hovering at approximately 80%. The higher silver content, along with monetary reforms related to exchange rates, led to hoarding in neighboring countries.

By the 1620s, the coins were widely distributed throughout Transylvania, alongside the depreciated local currency. Silver purity of the coins notably declined during this period, which was reflected in exchange rates established by the Transylvanian Diet, a judicial and legislative body of the Transylvanian Principality, under Prince Gabriel Bethlen. There has been much debate over the perceived devaluation of three polker coins, as historical accounts conflict as to how much if any debasement had occurred on Polish coinage the same way local Transylvanian currency had been devalued. Evidence of hoarded high quality three polker coins in Transylvania contradicted this belief, and modern research suggests that while three polker coins experienced a decline in silver content during this period, though it was not to the extent suggested by the exchange rates. By 1626, Bethlen implemented a monetary reform which led to the collection and melting of forged three polker coins with the lower silver content, effectively removing the lower value coins from circulation, and the restored, higher silver content three polker coins continued production.

Each includes a Certificate of Authenticity and is guaranteed genuine.