W. C a r e w H a z l i t t Coinage of the European Continent

356 The Coins of Europe
Poland, and the Elector was not recognised as an independent
sovereign till 1657. The death of John Sobieski in 1697
and the creation of the Prussian monarchy in 1701 were
two almost concurrent incidents, which combined, with the
internal discord fomented by Sweden and Russia, to accomplish
the ruin of a political system and a national greatness
built up by the Jagellon dynasty, and sustained by two
or three of the elected rulers ;
and during the whole of the
eighteenth century the Polish coinage shared the fortune of
the Crown, and was mainly of Saxon origin.
From the point of view of a collector, the series under
consideration presents numerous features of interest and
attraction. Contenting himself with a moderate selection of
the more ancient pieces struck for Poland or Livonia, his
attention is
apt
to be arrested when he arrives at the
sixteenth century by the good work on the money of
Sigismund I., II., and III., by the thalers commencing with
1560 or thereabout, and running to the reign of Stanislas
II., Poniatowski (1764-95) those of Sigismund III. and his
;
immediate successors are seldom procurable in fine state,
and the thalers of Sobieski and Frederic Christian, 1763,
are rare. The early issue of the last king, 1766, powerfully
and impressively contrasts with the later of 1788, where the
cast of expression seems to foreshadow the imminent
catastrophe. The gold and early copper are equally uncommon,
and among the former the ducats and their
multiples are particularly desirable. The three-ducat piece
of John Casimir (1648-68), with a view of Dantzic on
reverse and a life-like portrait on obverse, is executed with
care, delicacy, and A skill. double one of Michael Korybut
(1669-74) reads Rex Polo. M. D. L. Rvs. Pr. and Ex Avro
Solido Civit. Thorvnensis Fieri Fee. Nor should it be forgotten
that the franc d' argent, e'en, d'or, and other currency of
Henry III. of France are necessary adjuncts. In England
the acquaintance with the numismatic history of the Poles,
before the sale of the Albert Collection, was of the most vague
and limited nature.