Grosz – the basis if the monetary system of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania | Orbis Lituaniae
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Grosz – the basis if the monetary system of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

The groszy of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were minted for the first time in 1535 only, however, the monetary system of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania had been based on the grosz earlier. The first Prague groszy appeared in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 14th century. At first the monetary system of the GDL was based on the silver alloy – the rouble. The monetary system based on the Prague grosz was introduced in the fourth quarter of the 15th century when around the year 1411 Vytautas minted new coins of his own (pillars / spearhead with a cross). At that time, however, a duodecimal system of counting was introduced. The dinars minted by Vytautas constituted 1:12 part of the Prague grosz. Simultaneously the counting unit – a score – 60 groszy – appeared. Later the Dinars minted by Casimir constituted 1:10 of the Prague grosz already. The Prague groszy were about 28 mm in diameter and the mass of the coin was about 3 grams.

The first Lithuanian grosz – to settle accounts with the Polish army

During the time of Alexander’s reign in 1495 the monetary reform was implemented, the GDL grosz and the decimal monetary system were introduced. However, no grosz coins were minted yet. True, sometimes the so-called probationary one grosz (one piece is known) is mentioned but it is believed that it was a forgery of the 19th century. Following the monetary reform implemented by Alexander, the coins worth half a grosz (half grosz) were minted, the dinars were also coined. One grosz consisted of two half groszy and 10 Dinars in the new monetary system. 

Sigismund the Old continued minting Half Groszy, and in 1535–1536, the first GDL groszy were minted.

Appearance of the Grosz was determined by two following reasons: there was a lack of coins of a large denomination in circulation – the Prague grosz; at that time wars with Moscow were fought and it was necessary to settle accounts with the mercenary Polish army. Minting of new coins for the treasury of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania had to give additional income. Bishop of Vilnius, Jan,  was appointed the manager of the Vilnius mint opened on 22 July 1535, and Kaspar Moler was appointed master of money. When the war came to an end, the mint was closed down in 1536.

The first groszy minted in Vilnius were 25–27 mm in diameter, their mass was 2.57 grams (hallmark was 375). The Polish eagle was represented on one side of the coin and the rider of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was on the other side. These groszy differed from other coins minted in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in one feature: some coins did not only bore the date of minting but also the first letter of the month. The following letters are known: – I (Januarius), F (Februarius), M (Martius), A (August, Aprilius), S (September), N (November). 3–4 million pieces of these grosz could have been minted.

Local groszy were outshone by the foreign ones

Lithuanian groszy were rare in the circulation of the coins of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. This was determined by a small run of these coins. About 40 pieces of the groszy of Sigismund the Old, which were referred to as the flat ones in written sources, were discovered in Lithuania, which accounts for only about 10% of all the groszy of Sigismund the Old.

At that time the Prussian groszy prevailed in circulation.

Other Rulers also continued minting groszy. Sigismund August minted them in Vilnius in 1545–1546, in 1555–1556, and in 1559; in 1566 they were minted in Tykocin. This Ruler minted also groszy of the Polish foot in Vilnius in 1546–1548, 1566–1568 (mass – 2.05 grams) and in Tykocin in 1566. The value of these Groszy was 20% lower than that of the GDL groszy. Sigismund Augustus minted Groszy of larger denominations for the first time in the history of the coins of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania: 2 groszy (1565), 3 groszy, 4 groszy, 6 groszy, 30 groszy (Thaler).

The groszy of Sigismund Augustus are even rarer coins than those of Sigismund the Old. Only more than 30 pieces have been discovered in Lithuania (15 pieces of Lithuanian and Polish feet each). The reports of the mints testify to the fact that in 1545–1546 more than 375 000 pieces of these coins were minted. 

The rare coin the grosz was an important unit of counting

During the period of Stephen Bathory’s reign (1580) a new monetary reform was implemented. The value of the grosz of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was reduced, and the Polish eagle appeared next to the rider of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania on the coins. The mass of the groszy minted in 1580–1581 was 1.9 grams, the hallmark was 359. Later the value of the grosz decreased – the mass of the coin of Zygmunt III Waza (1607–1615) was 1.58 grams, and in 1625–1627 the mass was 1.045 grams. Also, 3 groszy and 6 groszy were minted. In 1619 coins of 1.5 grosz were minted for the first time. 

Do You Know?

The last coin of the grosz denomination of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was minted in 1652 in the years of Jan Kazimierz Waza’s reign.

The groszy of Stephen Báthory are rare coins in the treasures discovered in Lithuania. Only two coins of this kind have been discovered, some more have been discovered in Slovakia and Hungary. The groszy of Zygmunt III Waza are coins of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania of this denomination that were most profusely minted. However, having compared their amount with the amounts of the coins of other denominations minted by Zygmunt III Waza, this would account for hardly 3.5 per cent. About 50 pieces of the Groszy minted in 1607–1615 have been discovered in Lithuania, and the number of the Groszy minted in 1625–1627 that have been discovered in Lithuania totals about 500 pieces. 

In the years of Jan Kazimierz Waza’s reign attempts were made to renew minting of the groszy. In 1652, the GDL coin of the Grosz denomination was minted for the last time. Also, coins of 1.5 grosz, 3 groszy and 6 groszy denominations were minted. Having renewed minting of the GDL coins after the war with Moscow, coins of 3.6 groszy and coins of the new GDL denomination – 18 groszy were issued. The latter coin is also called ort. 

The groszy of Jan Kazimierz Waza of the year 1652 are also rare. Six pieces of them have been discovered in Lithuania. It is thought that about 250–350 thousand pieces of these coins could have been minted. 

Though the grosz was the basis of the monetary system of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 15th– 17th centuries, as a coin it did not enjoy great popularity.

Eduardas Remecas