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Huszár 586, Pohl 124-49, Unger 456 alpha-alpha, Réthy II 129
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Hungary. Sigismund (Zsigmond in Hun.) of Luxembourg (1387-1437; Holy Roman Emperor 1433-1437). Billon quarting, 13-14 mm.
Obv: Patriarchal cross, Q or koppa–L (privy mark) in central fields.
Rev: Patriarchal cross.
The type was struck in 1430-1437 (per Pohl, Huszár & Unger). This privy mark was probably struck in Pécs (per Pohl).
Huszár/Pohl rarity rating 3. This specimen is poorly struck, even for the emission, with the obverse devise also appearing on the reverse.
“Owing to inner strife and disordered general conditions, the coins [of this period] were usually minted with extremely low precious metal content; moreover, poor mintages were often struck with negligently engraved dies. As a result of the hurried, superficial minting, it was sometimes doubtful whether a faulty coin had been issued officially, or was a forgery” (Huszár 1963, at 15).
The quarting (also known as the fryling and as a moneta minor) was originally worth a quarter of a denar, but it “soon fell victim to the manipulations of the treasury. Its fineness decreased at such a rate that soon it contained almost nothing but copper. The result was economic anarchy. Trust in these silver coins was irreparably damaged, and, although the government officially devalued the quarting several times, its market value fell even more drastically. In the last years of Sigismund’s reign, 6,000 to 8,000 quartings were equivalent to one florin instead of the original 400” (Engel, at 223-224)
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![Huszár 586, Pohl 124-49, Unger 456 alpha-alpha, Réthy II 129
Hungary. Sigismund (Zsigmond in Hun.) of Luxembourg (1387-1437; Holy Roman Emperor 1433-1437). Billon quarting, 13-14 mm.
Obv: Patriarchal cross, Q or koppa–L (privy mark) in central fields.
Rev: Patriarchal cross.
The type was struck in 1430-1437 (per Pohl, Huszár & Unger). This privy mark was probably struck in Pécs (per Pohl).
Huszár/Pohl rarity rating 3. This specimen is poorly struck, even for the emission, with the obverse devise also appearing on the reverse.
“Owing to inner strife and disordered general conditions, the coins [of this period] were usually minted with extremely low precious metal content; moreover, poor mintages were often struck with negligently engraved dies. As a result of the hurried, superficial minting, it was sometimes doubtful whether a faulty coin had been issued officially, or was a forgery” (Huszár 1963, at 15).
The quarting (also known as the fryling and as a moneta minor) was originally worth a quarter of a denar, but it “soon fell victim to the manipulations of the treasury. Its fineness decreased at such a rate that soon it contained almost nothing but copper. The result was economic anarchy. Trust in these silver coins was irreparably damaged, and, although the government officially devalued the quarting several times, its market value fell even more drastically. In the last years of Sigismund’s reign, 6,000 to 8,000 quartings were equivalent to one florin instead of the original 400” (Engel, at 223-224)](albums/userpics/22787/HUN_Zsigmund_Huszar_586%2C_Pohl_124-49.JPG "Huszár 586, Pohl 124-49, Unger 456 alpha-alpha, Réthy II 129
Hungary. Sigismund (Zsigmond in Hun.) of Luxembourg (1387-1437; Holy Roman Emperor 1433-1437). Billon quarting, 13-14 mm.
Obv: Patriarchal cross, Q or koppa–L (privy mark) in central fields.
Rev: Patriarchal cross.
The type was struck in 1430-1437 (per Pohl, Huszár & Unger). This privy mark was probably struck in Pécs (per Pohl).
Huszár/Pohl rarity rating 3. This specimen is poorly struck, even for the emission, with the obverse devise also appearing on the reverse.
“Owing to inner strife and disordered general conditions, the coins [of this period] were usually minted with extremely low precious metal content; moreover, poor mintages were often struck with negligently engraved dies. As a result of the hurried, superficial minting, it was sometimes doubtful whether a faulty coin had been issued officially, or was a forgery” (Huszár 1963, at 15).
The quarting (also known as the fryling and as a moneta minor) was originally worth a quarter of a denar, but it “soon fell victim to the manipulations of the treasury. Its fineness decreased at such a rate that soon it contained almost nothing but copper. The result was economic anarchy. Trust in these silver coins was irreparably damaged, and, although the government officially devalued the quarting several times, its market value fell even more drastically. In the last years of Sigismund’s reign, 6,000 to 8,000 quartings were equivalent to one florin instead of the original 400” (Engel, at 223-224)")
