The Renaissance Collection Six Silver Coin Set

Image shows typical coins, not to scale, listed from left to right:

Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, , Russia, and

The European Renaissance was a cultural movement that bridged the gap between the High and the Industrial Revolution, comprising a sea of change in thought that influenced literature, philosophy, art, music, politics, science, religion, and all other intellectual pursuits. It began in Italy in the 14th century, spreading to the rest of Europe over the next 250 years, and changed forever how we look at the world.

Historians still debate the causes of the Renaissance. Some argue that a marked increase in trade and finance exposed Europeans to the more advanced cultures of the Middle East and Asia. Others cite the influence of the powerful Medici family in Florence, who financed much of the art for which the period is known. Then there was the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans and the resulting influx of scholars to Florence and other Italian cities, as well as the efforts of Pope Nicholas V, who sought to compete with the lavish Eastern Orthodox Church by building great cathedrals. Finally, the Black Death, which wiped out half the population of Florence in 1347 alone, altered the prevailing worldview, inspiring a more humanist approach to scientific inquiry.

Whatever the reason, the Renaissance had an undeniable and pervasive impact on Western endeavor. A list of famous figures from the period is a veritable Who’s Who of European accomplishment: Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Cervantes, Shakespeare, Dante, Copernicus, Machiavelli, Francis Bacon, Thomas Moore, Walter Raleigh, Christopher Columbus, and Michelangelo. The Renaissance represents the birth of modern Western culture.

This collection of silver coins from Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Austria illustrates the progressive changes of the Renaissance Era.

The coins:

1.Hungary parvus, Sigismund of Luxemburg (1387-1437) The last monarch of the House of Luxemborg, Sigismund was Holy Roman Emperor from 1433 until his death in 1437. His 50-year reign in Hungary was one of the longest on record. This silver coin is a parvus (also known as the small denar, filler or pankart). The obverse of the coin depicts a four part shield with Arpadian stripes and eagle, S-V-R above and flanking, K or P (the privy mark) at the right. The reverse of the coin shows four crowns between cross. W: 0.2- 0.3 g; D: 7.5- 8.5 mm.

2. Genoa denaro minuto, Charles VI (1396-1409) From 1394-1409, in the wake of the Black Death, Genoa was under the yoke of Mad King Charles VI of France. But its fortunes turned, as Genoa reestablished itself as a hub of banking in the 15th century. These billon minuto coins, featuring the French fleur-de-lis and the gateway castle, were issued at the time of the French occupation. W: 0.5-0.7 g; D: 12.5-15 mm.

3. Lithuania half groschen, Sigismund I (1506-1544) Sigismund I, of the famed Jagiellonian dynasty, was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. He was an admirer of Italy, marrying into the Sforza family, and his patronage of the arts and architecture ignited the Renaissance movement in Poland. The obverse of the silver half groschen coins picture a knight riding left on horseback, reigns in left, sword in right (monETA •SigismVnDI•IZ in legend). The reverse of the coin is an imperial eagle facing head left, wings spread (magni•DVCIS•LITVAnIE in legend). W: 1-1.2 g; D: 18-20 mm.

4. Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth 3 polker, Sigismund III (1587-1632) Sigismund III Vasa presided over the greatest territorial extent in the history of either country. On the obverse is the Polish-Lithuanian coat of arms, featuring the Polish eagle and the Lithuanian mounted knight, with the crowned wheat-sheaf shield of Vasa, the ruling family, at center. The inscription SIGIS.D.G. REX.P.M.D.L. translates to: “Sigismund, by the grace of God, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania.” The reverse is a globus cruciger, also known as the royal orb. At its center is 24, representing the coin being 1/ 24th of a . The inscription reads MONE.NO.REG.POLO, “New coin of the Kingdom of Poland.” W: 0.9- 1.2 g; D: 19-19.5 mm.

5. Russia wire money, Michael I (1613-1645) When 16-year-old Michael Romanov reluctantly agreed to take the crown, Russia had endured a horrific period known as the Time of Troubles. He ruled Russia for 32 years, and had ten children, ensuring a plentitude of heirs. These small silver wire money coins are quite crude and are usually struck partially off-center. The coins are inscribed on the obverse side with the Czar's name and his titles in Old Russian script. The complete inscription is often partly cut off. The reverse of the coins show a horseman with a spear. W: 0.4- 0.5 g; D: 9.5 x 12.9 mm.

6. Austria 3 , Ferdinand II (1619-1637) Holy Roman Emperor and King of and Hungary, Ferdinand II had the dubious distinction of presiding over the whole of the Thirty Years’ War—at the time, the most devastating in the history of . The legend on the obverse reads FERDI•II•D•G•R•I•S•A•G•H•B•REX. The reverse legend reads: ARCH•AVS•DVX•BVR•STYRIA. W: 1.3-1.6 g; D: 20.5-23 mm.

Product specifications: Box measures: 7.25” x 5.5” x 1.25” Order code: 6SILRENAISSANCEBOX-B

All coins in each set are protected in an archival capsule and beautifully displayed in a mahogany-like box. The box set is accompanied with a story card, certificate of authenticity, and a black gift box.