Thaler

The image of Duke Bogislaw XIV is known from thalers minted in large numbers during the Thirty Years' War. The Duchy, pursuing a policy of neutrality, had to pay a war tax (over 83 thousand thalers) as part of the Reich, and from 1627, it was obliged to maintain the imperial troops occupying the country. Only in the period from November 1627 to May 1628, it cost almost half a million thalers. Silver seized from churches, manors, and even the princely treasury was made into coin. However, the production was aimed at financing a foreign army and not at improving the finances of the Duchy. Thalers were minted in 1628-1637 in two mints, in Szczecin and Koszalin. On them, there is, traditionally, a bust or half-figure of the ruler and the coat of arms of West Pomerania. It is assumed that the Koszalin thalers were made with a bishop in the royal titles and a shield with a cross (symbol of the bishopric) placed in the heart field of the Pomerania coat of arms. There are many exceptions, and the lack of written sources on the functioning of mints after 1629 makes it impossible to distinguish many coins. The situation is also complicated by the signature of a goldsmith and engraver from Szczecin, Gottfried Tabbert, often appearing on thalers from both mints. The title and coat of arms of the bishop and G-T initials on the thaler in question testify to Gottfried Tabbert's work for the mint in Koszalin. The coin is characterised by high artistic quality, meticulously worked armour with a sash and a lace collar. Attention is drawn to the artistically shaped Duke's face as part of a series of monetary images of the last Pomeranian ruler. The head divides the legend at the top, as does the jewel crowning the shield on the reverse. The issue is distinguished by the lack of an inner border separating the legend from the heraldic composition. The style developed by Gottfried Tabbert can be seen on other unsigned thalers. It is evident on the specimens minted in 1654 to commemorate the solemn funeral of Duke Bogislaw XIV.

Genowefa Horoszko