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Huszár 578, Pohl 118-9, Unger 450c, Réthy II 124A, Fryas H.27.6 # 2
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Hungary. Sigismund/Zsigmond of Luxembourg (1387-1437; Holy Roman Emperor 1433-1437).
AR denar (nominal fineness 0.540 AR; average weight 0.77 g.), .72 g., 16.12 mm. max., 90°.
Obv: mO•n • SIG—ISmVnDI, Patriarchal cross, K—L (privy mark) between arms.
Rev: + REGI[S] • VnGARIE ETC, Shield with Árpádian stripes.
The type was struck in 1427-1437. This privy mark was struck in 1436 in Kremnitz/Körmöcbánya, now Kremnica, Slovakia, by Leonardo Bardi-Noffry, kammergraf, or Petrus Lang, kammergraf.
Huszár/Pohl rarity 4, Unger value 6 DM, Frynas rarity C. The descriptions and depictions vary amongst the references with respect to the presence or absence of a cross on the reverse and the placement of pellets in the legends. This is a variation that is neither described nor depicted in any of the references, in that there is not a pellet between the ET and the C on the reverse.
This emission was struck with a nominal fineness of 0.540 silver and an average weight of 0.77 g., which is the same fineness and weight as its predecessor (per Huszár). However, Engel notes that Sigismund introduced this emission as a monetary reform, to address the deterioration in value of that earlier emission. The new emission, then called the “new greater money,” had the value of 100 to the aranyforint, and maintained its value until Sigismund’s death. In 1387, the bishop of Transylvania, who had long been reluctant to collect the tithe due to the poor quality of the coinage, demanded that all arrears be paid – and in this new currency. The result was a peasant revolt!
“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).
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