1 Solidus - Imitating Gustav II Adolf, 1621-1632 Suceava counterfeit

Features

Location Swedish Livonia
Type Contemporary counterfeits › Contemporary counterfeit
Years 1662-1672
Value 1 Solidus
Currency Swedish Livonia - Suceava Counterfeits
Composition Billon
Weight 0.51 g
Diameter 15 mm
Shape Round
Demonetized Yes
Number
N#
185959
References Haljak II# 
Gunnar Haljak, Antti Haljak; 2010. Livonian Coins / Part I. Feudal States : Livonian Coins from XIII-XVI Century : XIII-XVIII Century. self-published, Tallin, Estonia.
And 1 more volumes.

Obverse

Crowned monogram surrounded by legend.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
GVSTA : ADO - L : D : G : RA · S :
GA

Translation:
Gustav Adolf Dei Gratia Rex Sveciae
Gustav Adolf, with God's grace, King of Sweden

Reverse

Crossed keys in ornamented shield surrounded by legend.

Script: Latin

Lettering: SOLIDVS · CIVI · RIGEN · 28

Translation:
Solidus Civitatis Rigensis
Schilling of the city of Riga

Edge

Smooth.

Mint

Suceava, Romania

Comments

The exact lettering of the surrounding legend may vary.

In 1662, under the reign of Eustratie Dabija (1661-1665), the Suceava mint was re-opened in Moldovia (modern-day Romania). With the help of mintmaster Tito Livio Burattini, the mint struck many counterfeits of Livonian solidus pieces. Some say these counterfeits were used as a way to ruin the Livonian economy; others say they were struck to help Moldavia get out of their financial crisis.

Either way, these counterfeits were continally produced even after Eustratie Dabija's death, spanning over the reigns of George Ducas (1665-1666), Iliaş Alexandru (1666-1668), and the second reign of George Ducas (1668-1672) as well.

These coins differ from the original pieces in a few ways: they appear much more coppery (either made of copper or very low-quality billon, depending on the source), they typically (but not always) have ficticious dates, and they are often much cruder than the originals. Even so, these forgeries are still very collectable, and are usually worth more than the real pieces.

Theoretically, for each monogram, four types of counterfeits are possible:
Type 1) Riga with crossed keys (Riga/Riga)
Type 2) Livonia with griffon (Livonia/Livonia)
Type 3) Riga with griffon (Riga/Livonia)
Type 4) Livonia with crossed keys (Livonia/Riga)



Type 1 and Type 2 are imitating actual coins; Type 3 and Type 4 are mules of actual coins, meaning there is no original counterparts to them. While four types are, in theory, possible, no Type 4 counterfeits are known.

For those imitating Gustav II Adolf, only Type 1 counterfeits are known.

See also

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Date VG F VF XF AU UNC Frequency
ND (1662-1672)  6% Year '28'
ND (1662-1672)  18% Year '3'
ND (1662-1672)  Photo 0% Year '40'

Frequencies show the percentage of Numista users who own each year or variety among all the users who own this item. Since some users own several versions, the sum may be greater than 100%.

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This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

Examples of the type

FAKE
© Mah1
ND (1662-1672) – Year '40' (see more)
FAKE
© Mah1
ND (1662-1672) – Year '40' (see more)
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