1/24 thaler from Bydgoszcz - small coin with big history

It is common knowledge that in the 1520s the basic small coin was 1/24 thaler, which no one had heard of 15 years earlier.

But how did it happen that a small, inconspicuous coin suddenly appeared in the purses of Poles on a large scale?

It all started in... Prussia, specifically in Drezdenko (now within the borders of Poland). It was here that John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg and Prussian administrator, founded a mint in 1612, the purpose of which was to mint groschen, and the market was to become... Poland.

The mint itself did not operate for long. Due to pressure from the Polish side, it was closed already in 1615, but the short story had a surprising sequel. This situation indicated the market demand for this type of coin, hence in 1614 the Bydgoszcz mint began minting 1/24 thaler modeled on... Dresden groschen!

Over the dozen or so years of its operation, millions of 1/24 thalers pieces were been issued in countless varieties and variants, and more are constantly being discovered. Currently - due to their interesting history, numerous varieties and favorable prices - these coins are extremely popular with many collectors.