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1 daler, Stockholm, Sigismund III, 1598

King Sigismund did not mint any gold coins as ruler of Sweden, but 1 daler in silver was his highest denomination. On the obverse (front side) we see Sigismund with a crown, a sword and an orb. Sigismund's royal title starts on the obverse of the coin but is so long that it continues on the reverse: ‘SIGISMUNDUS DEI GRATIE SVECORUM GOTHORUM VANDALORUMQ POLONIAE REX’ - ‘Sigismund by the grace of God, King of the Swedes, the Goths and the Wends and of Poland’.

He had been elected King of Poland in 1587 after his uncle Stefan Batory and became King of Sweden in 1592 after his father King Johan III. If we look closely at the coat of arms, we can see not only the Swedish crowns and the Lion of the House of Bjälbo, but also the crowned eagle of Poland and the White Knights of Lithuania - during this time Poland and Lithuania formed a commonwealth.

Image rights: Helena Bonnevier, Ekonomiska museet - Kungliga myntkabinettet/SHM (CC BY 4.0)

Object number: 108575_KMK

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