1590 Thaler
Thaler of Sigismund Báthory, Prince of Transylvania, struck during the lead-up to the Long Turkish War.
- Metal
- Silver
- Grade
- NGC XF-45
Full attribution & era
The history behind the coin.
A handsome 1590 Thaler of Sigismund Báthory (Báthori Zsigmond), Prince of Transylvania from 1586 to 1602. The obverse shows the young prince in armor and ruff with the legend SIGISMVNDVS · BATHORI; the reverse displays the crowned Báthory arms supported by two wild men, dated 1590 and inscribed PRINCEPS · TRANSSYLVANIAE.
Sigismund inherited a Transylvania nominally tributary to the Ottoman Sultan but caught between the Habsburgs and the Porte. A few years after this Thaler was struck he would break with the Ottomans and join the Holy League, dragging the principality into the Long Turkish War (1593-1606) and a chaotic series of abdications and returns to power.
Large silver of the Báthory princes is rarely encountered in problem-free, original condition - this NGC XF-45 example retains strong portrait detail and even, attractive surfaces.