In 1561, Riga obtained the status of
Free Imperial City,
meaning that it was not subject to any intermediate ruler such as a duke or count, but
was directly subject to the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. This status lasted
until 1581.
Starting in 1575, Riga used a coin striking machine known as a
"Walzwerk," consisting of rolls of
obverse and reverse dies. A metal plate was fed between the rolls, receiving impressions of
both dies, and the coins were then cut out. This increased the speed that coins could be produced as
prior to this coins were struck by hammer blow.
Several denominations were struck, though the most common is the
schilling. The standard obverse style shows the coat of arms of Riga (stone portal with
two flagged towers, small cross on top, and the head of a lion in
the gates), and has the legend CIVITATIS RIGENSIS. The standard reverse style shows the
small coat of arms of Riga (two crossed keys with a small cross above), and has the
legend MONE NO ARGENTEA.
A number of varieties exist, several of which are shown below. Coins are shown
at three times their normal diameter for ease in comparing the variations.
While the castle and other imagery varies from coin to coin,
the variations identified here primarily consist of differences in the obverse and reverse
legends, both in how the legend reads, and how the various components are separated.
Legend separators used on these coins are documented here,
and this article describes these coins in greater detail.
General Coinage
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1563 Schilling
GVILHELM D G A E RI Wilhelm von Brandenberg's family shield on the breast of an eagle.
P MONETA NOVA RIGE The small coat of arms of Riga
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1586 3 Groszy
STEP D G REX P D L
III / 1586 / GR OS / ARG TRIP / CIVI / RE / GE
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1581 Groshen
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Riga under Polish control.
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1598 Solidus
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Riga under Polish control.
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Hockey medallion
HOKEJA / KOMANDA / DINAMO / RIGA
RIGA
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Free City Ferdings
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1566 Ferding
CIVITATIS RIGEN
X MONETA 5R NOVA 5R ARGENTE
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1566 Ferding
CIVITATIS RIGENS
X MONETA 5S NOVA 5S ARGEN
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1567 Ferding
CIVITATIS RIGEN
X MONETA 5R NOVA 5R ARGENTE
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Free City Schillings
1563
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1563 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS
5r MONETA 5r NOVA 5r ARGEN
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1563 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS 6S RIGENSIS
5r MONETA 5r NOVA 5r ARGEN
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1564
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1564 Schilling
6s CIVITATIS 6s RIGENSIS
5r MONETA 5r NOVA 5r ARGEN
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1564 Schilling
6s CIVITATIS 6s RIGENSIS
5r MONETA 5r NOVA 5r ARGEN
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1563/64
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1564/63 Schilling
6s CIVITATIS 6s RIGENSIS
5r MONETA 5r NOVA 5r RIGE
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Same reverse as the last Archbishop issue.
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1565
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1565 Schilling
5s EF MONETA 5s NOVA 5s ARGE
5s EF CIVITATIS 5s RIGENSIS
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1565 Schilling
EF MONETA 5s NOVA 5s ARGEN
EF CIVITATIS 5s RIGENSIS
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1565 Schilling
5s EF CIVITATIS 5s RIGENS
EF MONETA 5s NOVA 5s ARGE |
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1565 Schilling
CIVITATIS5s RIGENS
MONE 5s NOVA 5s ARGE
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1566
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1566 Schilling
EF CIVITATIS RIGENS
EF MONETA P NOVA P ARGE
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1566 Schilling
EF CIVITATIS RIGEN
EF MONETA P NO P ARG
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1566 Schilling
EF MONETA P NOVA P ARG
EF MONETA NOVA ARGEN
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The reverse legend is used on the obverse.
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1566 Schilling
EF CIVITATIS 5s RIGENS
EF MONETA 5s NOVA 5s ARG |
1567
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1567 Schilling
EF CIVITATIS RIGENS
EF MONETA NOVA ARG
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1567 Schilling
EF CIVITATIS RIGEN
EF MONETA NOVA ARG
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1568
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1568 Schilling
EF CIVITATIS RIGEN
EF MONETA P NO P <?>
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1568 Schilling
EF CIVITATIS P RIGENS
<?> MONETA P NO P ARGE <?>
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The V of CIVITATIS is an upside-down A.
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1568 Schilling
EF CIVITATIS P RIGEN
EF MONETA NO 3P ARG
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1568 Schilling
EF CIVITATIS P RIGENIS
EF MONE<?> NO P ARG
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1568 Schilling
EF MONETA NO ARG
EF MONETA NO <?>
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1568 Schilling
EF CIVITATIS P RIGENSI
EF MONETA P NO P ARG
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No Date
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No Date Schilling
EF CIVITATIS 2P RIGEN
EF MONETA NO ARG |
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No Date Schilling
EF CIVITATIS RIGEN
EF MONETA NO ARG
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No Date Schilling
EF CIVITATIS 2P RIGEN
EF MONETA NO ARG
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No Date Schilling
EF CIVITATIS RIGEN
EF MONETA P NO P ARG
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No Date Schilling
6S CIVITATIS P RIGENS
6S MONETA 5s NO 5s ARGEN
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Actually undated, or missing a date due to a striking error (later 1569-74 castle style)?
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1569
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1569 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS RIGENS
FL MONETA NO ARG
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1569 Schilling
2P FL CIVITATIS RIGENSSIS
FL MONETA NO ARGEN
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There are two Ss in RIGENSIS. Larger, post-69 dome.
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1569 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS RIGENSI
FL MONETA NO ARGEN
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Larger, post-69 dome.
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1569 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI
FL MONETA P NO P ARGENTE
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Larger, post-69 dome, dots on either side and gate? below.
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1569 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENS
FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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1569 Schilling
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The coin is double-struck, with parts of each legend on both faces.
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1569 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGEN
FL MONETA P NO P ARGE
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1569 Schilling
2P CIVITATIS P RIGEN
2P MONETA P NO P ARE
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1569 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI
FL MONETA P NO P ARGE
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1569 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS RIGENSI
FL MONETA P NO P ARGE
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Larger, post-69 dome. The gate appears to be raised.
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1569 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS RIGEN
FL MONETA P NO P ARGE
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1569 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS RIGEN
FL MONETA P NO P ARGE
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1569 Schilling
CIVITATIS RIGEN
2P MONETA P NO P ARGE
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1570
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1570 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENS
FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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Much obverse doubling.
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1570 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI
FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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1570 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENS
FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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1570 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENS
FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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1570 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P P RIGENSI
FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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1570 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS 2P RIGENSI
FL MONETA P NO P ARGENT
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1570 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI
FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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1570 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS 2P RIGENNS
FL MONECEN ... MON ... N
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Reverse double struck after rotation?
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1570 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI
FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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1570 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI
FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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1570 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS 2P RIGENSIS
FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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Pellets on either side of the gate.
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1570 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENS
FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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Pellets on either side of the gate.
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1570 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI
FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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Pellets on either side of the gate, and a clear "drawbridge?"
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1570 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS 2P RIGENSI
FL MONETA P NO P ARGENT
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Drawbridge, pellets surrounding the gate, and an unusual 3-column dome.
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1570 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI
FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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1570 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS RIGENSI
FL MONETA 2P NO 2P ARGENT
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1571
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1571 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS
FL MONETA P NO P ARGENT
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1571 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS
FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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1571 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI
FL MONETA P NO P ARGENT
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1571 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS
FL MONETA P NO P ARGENT
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1571 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P C ARGESIS
FL CIVITAETA P NO P ARGEN
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Flip-over double strike.
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1571 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS
FL MONETA P NO P ARGENT
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Very large V in CIVITATIS.
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1571 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS
FL MONETA P NO P ARGENT
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1571 Schilling
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Double struck - the castle gate can be seen on the reverse, to the left of the 1.
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1571 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS
FL MONETA P NO P NO P ARGENT
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Double struck, most easily seen in the reverse legend and flatness in the 7 and keys.
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1571 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI
FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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1571 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS
FL MONETA P NO P ARGENT
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1571 Schilling
CCVVITATIS P RIGENSIS
FL MOO(N)ET P NO P ARGENT
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1571 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS > RIGENSI
FL MONETA P NO P ARGENT
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Upside-down 7.
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1571 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS
PL MONETA P NO P ARGENT
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Plumes.
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1571 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS
PL MONETA P NO P ARGENT
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1572
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1572 Schilling
FL C<?>TIS 3B RIGENSIS
<?> MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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1572 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS 3B RIGENSIS
PL MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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1572 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS 3B RIGENSIS
PL MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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1572 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS 3B RIGENSIS
PL MONETA P NO P ARGENT
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Pellet below the keys.
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1572 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS 3B RIGENSIS
PL MONETA P NO P ARGENT
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Pellet below the keys.
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1572 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS 6s RIGENSIS
PL MONETA P NO P ARGENT
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Pellet below the keys. While the reverse has a fleur as the legend separator, the obverse has a star instead of three berries.
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1572 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS
FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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1572 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS 6S RIGENSIS
CR1 MONETA P NO P ARGENT
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1572 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS CR2 RIGENSIS
PL MONETA P NO P ARGENT
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1572 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS
PL MONETA P NO P ARGENT
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1574
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1574 Schilling
6s CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS
PL2 MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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Pellet below the keys.
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1574 Schilling
6s CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS
PL2 MONETA P NO P ARGEN
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