Topics of coins
Florin of Ladislas the Elbow-high
The coinage of Ladislas the Elbow-high (1306 –1333)
has transition features. On the one hand, it is
inspired by the previous bracteates period, where
a dump reigned. On the other hand, it also exhibits
characteristics of a coming penny era. These coins are
now not single-sided, thin bracteates anymore, they
are bilateral denarii. However, according to Ryszard
Kiersnowski, the most famous coin “worthy of a place
among the most prominent historical monuments of
the Polish Middle Ages” is a florin, called ducat in the
past. This is the first Polish coin made in gold, which
is ahead for about two hundred years of next issues
in this ore.
The obverse shows the king on the throne, with
a crown on his head, and a lily sceptre and a reign
apple in his hands. Circular inscription: WLADISLAVS
D[e]I G[ratia] REX explains that this is “Ladislas,
by the Grace of God, the King”.
On the reverse, there is a figure of a standing bishop,
with a halo around his head, and a mitre on it. In his left
hand he holds a crosier, and he rises the right one to
the blessing. As legend holds, S[anctus] STANISLAVS
POL[oni]E, is the “holy Polish Stanisław”.
In the past, this magnificent and unusual coin was
associated with the Royal Coronation of Ladislas the
Elbow-high in 1320. Ryszard Kiersnowski’s study has
shown that the coin was issued later, in 1330 only. It was
connected with double indulgence established in honour
of Saint Stanisław (8 May and 27 September) by the Pope.
To obtain it, the faithful lodged two foreign golden coins
which were in circulation at that time. Ore obtained
in this way enabled the king to mint his own coin.
It helped him to make war with the Teutonic Knights.
The issue was not large and is estimated at several
thousand pieces. Only one of them has preserved to
our times. This is a pride of Emeryk Hutten-Czapski’s
collection which is kept in the National Museum in
Cracow.
On the currently minted collector coin, besides the
representation of the florin presented here, one can
see the portrait of Ladislas the Elbow-high taken from
his tomb sculpture situated in the Wawel Cathedral.
On the other side of the coin, the king is imaged on
his seal of majesty, sitting in state on his throne. This
image correlates well with the same motif on the florin.
The similarity is not accidental – the author of coin
dies probably relied on an older and more carefully
elaborated seal.
Stanisław Suchodolski