A specimen piece of a rare Lithuanian half ducat.
A mint piece with beautiful relief and a deep mint mirror across the background. This is the most beautiful 1665 half-ducat that has appeared at Polish auctions in recent years.
"Golden boratine," as Vilnius half-dukats are popularly called due to their iconographic coincidence with copper shekels, is a denomination minted in Lithuania in only two vintages (1664-1665). Made to pay outstanding pay to Lithuanian troops participating in the Moscow War, among other things.
Stamped on a rolling mill, known from two basic types - with the titulature starting from the king's neck, and as on the present piece - from the ruler's forehead.
A very rare in this condition, typologically important issue.
Obverse: bust of the king in a laurel wreath, facing to the right, below it the initials T.L.B. (Titus Livius Boratini - mint manager). In the rim the titulature:
IOA CAS REX PO S.
Reverse: a halo between the duke's mitre and the monogram KHPL (Krishpin Hieronim Kirschenstein - Grand Treasurer of Lithuania). In the rim the legend:
MON AVR MAG DVC LIT 1665.
Gold, diameter ~16 mm, weight 1.73 g.
