A striking vicarian thaler of Augustus II the Strong, being the first vicarian coin of the Polish king.
On the reverse are the initials ILH of Johann Lorenz Holland, mincmaster of the Dresden mint.
Nice piece, good detail, background with lots of mint luster. Dark, noble patina.
Obverse: King on horseback to the right, under the horse a five-field shield of arms, with the coats of arms of the Crown, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Wettin family.
Reverse: three altars, with the insignia of the King, the Elector of Saxony and covered with a mantle with a wreath, at the top FRID AUG / REX ELECTOR, in the wreath ET VICARIUS POST MORT / IOSEPHI / IMPERAT, on the sides the date MDC - CXI, the initials ILH and the mint mark hook.
Diameter 45 mm, weight 29.20 g
During the time of Augustus the Strong, the mints of the Republic were not put into operation. In the strict sense of the word, no Polish or Lithuanian coins were minted at that time. From the point of view of the applicable law, the Leipzig issues belonged to the Saxon mint. Nevertheless, due to the Polish denominations and the Polish name of the king - August II, and not Frederick Augustus as on Saxon coins - some of the coins in this group are included in the Polish minting. These include sixpences, orts, thalers half-ducats and ducats. In addition, the Moscow mint issued Lithuanian sixpences, while the Gdansk mint issued ducats, two-ducats and shekels. A significant area of mint production during the reign of Augustus the Strong is also occupied by commemorative coins, tokens, as well as private issues.
