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.
Free City Schillings
1575
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
4r MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
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Open circle below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
6S MONETA 6S NOVA 6S RIGE
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The reverse legend is changed to MONETA NOVA RIGE, and the cross above the keys is much larger. Pellet below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
6S MONETA 6S NOVA 6S RIGE
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The reverse legend is changed to MONETA NOVA RIGE, and the cross above the keys is much larger. Pellet below the keys. The reverse die is the same as previous (later die stage - larger chips, etc.), but the obverse die is different.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
6S MONETA 6S NOVA 6S RIGE
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This coin is identical to the previous one, although both the obverse and reverse dies are more worn.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
P 6S MONE 6S NO 6S RIGENSIS
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RIGENSIS appears on both the obverse and reverse. Pellet below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATES F RIGENSIS
4r MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
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CIVITATIS is misspelled (last I is an E). Open circle below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATES F RIGENSIS
4r MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
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CIVITATIS is misspelled (last I is an E). Open circle below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
P CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5f MONE 6s NO 6s ARGENTEA
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Rosette below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
C CIVITATI F RIGENSIS
5f MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
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Open circle below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVTTATIS F RIGENSIS
F MONE 6S NO 6S ARGENTEA
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Pellet below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVTTATIS F RIGENSIS
MONE 6S NO 6S ARGENTEA
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Pellet below the keys. The cross above the keys is so high that it is the legend separator.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
6S MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
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Obverse legend begins with a star. Pellet below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
P CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
4R MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
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Obverse legend begins with a pellet, reverse legend begins with a large 4-petaled rosette.
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1575 Schilling
P CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5f MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
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Obverse legend begins with a pellet, reverse legend begins with a small 5-petaled rosette. The key handles are decorated with extra dots. Open circle below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5f MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
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Obverse legend begins with a star, reverse legend begins with a small 5-petaled rosette. Open circle below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
C CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
FL MONE FL NO FL ARGENTEA
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Small clip at the base. Small open circle separator and below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
C CIVITATI F RIGENSIS
5R MONE 5R NO 5R ARGENTEA
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Small open circle separator, and below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
P CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5f MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
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Small open circle separator, and below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
P CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5f MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
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1575 Schilling
6s CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
lf MONE 6s NO 6s ARGENTEA
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1575 Schilling
6s CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
P MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTE
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1575 Schilling
P CIVITATIS F RIGENSI
5f MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTA
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The A of CIVITATIS is an upside-down V. Pellet below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
P CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
P MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTE
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Cross high enough to place the pellet to the left. Indent on the reverse - uneven strike? Rosette below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5f MONE 5f NO 5f AEGENTEA
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Small open circle below the keys. The C of CIVITATIS overlaps the last S of RIGENSIS. The A's on the reverse are upside-down V's.
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1575 Schilling
CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5f MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
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Small open circle below the keys. The C of CIVITATIS is to the left of 12:00 position. The A's on the reverse are upside-down V's.
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1575 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5f MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
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The flower at the start of the legend is superimposed on the S of RIGENSIS. Small open circle below the keys. The C of CIVITATIS is to the left of 12:00 position.
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1575 Schilling
FL CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5f MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
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The flower at the start of the legend is superimposed on the S of RIGENSIS. Small open circle below the keys. The C of CIVITATIS is to the left of 12:00 position.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
4r MONE 6s NO 6s ARGENTEA
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Circle below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5f MONE 6s NO 6s ARGENTEA
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Circle below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
6S MONE 6s NO 6s ARGENTEA
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Pellet below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
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Circle below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
6S P CIVITATIS F RIENSIS
4r MONE 6s NO 6s ARGENTE
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Open circle below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
<?> CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Open circle below the keys. The obverse legend is irregular.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Open circle below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONETA 5r NOVA 5r RIGE
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
lf MONE 6S NO 6S ARGENTEA
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Open circle below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
4r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Open circle below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Open circle below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
F MONE 6S NO 6S ARGENTEA
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Closed circle below the keys.
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1575 Schilling
6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
P P MONE 5s NO 5s ARGENTE
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Star below the keys.
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1576
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1576 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Five-petaled rosette below the keys.
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1576 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
3L MONE 5r NO 5r ARGNTEA
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ARGENTEA is misspelled (missing first E). 3 pellets begin the reverse legend. Open circle below the keys.
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1576 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r ARGENTA 5r MONE 5r NO
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The reverse legend is rotated, with MONE NO last, followed by ARGENTA. Open circle below keys.
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1576 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r ARGENTA 5r MONE 5r NO
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The reverse legend is rotated, with MONE NO last, followed by ARGENTEA. Open circle below keys.
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1576 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Large pellet below keys.
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1576 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSI
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Rosette below keys.
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1576 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Open circle below keys.
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1576 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Rosette below keys.
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1576 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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The reverse legend has been substantially reworked.
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1577
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F R<?>SIS
5r MONE 5R/5r NO 5R ARG<?>TEA
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The second rosette on the reverse is a large rosette struck over a small rosette. Small rosette below the keys.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5R NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Large rosette below the keys.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENIS
5r MONE 5R NO 5R ARGENTE
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Rosette below the keys.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5R NO 5r ARGENTE
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The keys on the reverse are so low that they intersect the inner ring. Rosette below the keys.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5R NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Rosette below the keys.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSI
5r MONE 5R NO 5r ARGENTE
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Rosette below the keys.
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1577 Schilling
CIVITATI F RIGENIS
5r MONE 5R NO 5r ARGENTE
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Rosette below the keys.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENI
5r MONE 5R NO 5r ARGENTE
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Rosette below the keys.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5R NO 5r ARGENT
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Rosette below the keys.
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1577 Schilling
CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Large flower below the keys. Double-struck right key. Last A of ARGENTEA is an upside-down V.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSI
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
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Rosette below the keys.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
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Rosette below the keys.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATI F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Rosette below the keys.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATI? F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
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Rosette below the keys.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATI F RIGENIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
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Rosette below the keys.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATI F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
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Rosette below the keys. Very angled 7s. CIVITATI or CIVITATE?
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
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Rosette below the keys. Very thin S in RIGENSIS.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITAT<?> RIGENSIS
<?>MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
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Rosette below the keys. Open circles beyond the rim of the coin.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F R<?>SIS
"5r MONE 5r NO 5r AR<?>EA
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Rosette below the keys. The last A of ARGENTEA is at the 12:00 position, causing the legend sepaarator to be pushed into the rim.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS P F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Rosette below the keys. Smeared reverse.
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1577 Schilling
C 5r CIVITATIS P F RIGENSI
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Rosette below the keys. Multiple legend separators
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS P F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Rosette below the keys.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENT
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Small rosette below the keys. The cross is doubled.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Large flower below the keys.
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1577 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENT
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1577 Schilling
<?> CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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15LL
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15LL Schilling
5r/5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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The rosette at the start of the obverse legend is struck over a rosette of the same type. A rosette is below the keys.
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15LL Schilling
5r CIVITATI F RIGENSIS
5r 5r MONE 5R NO 5R ARGENTEA
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A rosette is below the keys.
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15LL Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSI
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
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On the reverse, a fleur is in place of the cross above the keys. A rosette is below the keys.
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15LL Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r 5r MONE 5R NO 5R ARGETE
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On the reverse, a fleur is in place of the cross above the keys. Two rosettes act as the obverse legend separator. A rosette is below the keys.
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15LL Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r 5r MONE 5R NO 5R ARGENTEA
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A rosette is below the keys.
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15LL Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r 5r MONE 5R NO 5R ARGENTE
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A rosette is below the keys. A fleur is above the cross.
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1578
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1578 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
P 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
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The reverse has both a pellet and a rosette as a legend separator. A rosette is below the keys.
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1578 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
P 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
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The reverse has both a pellet and a rosette as a legend separator. A rosette is below the keys.
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1578 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Shorter descender on the 7. A rosette is below the keys.
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1578 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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A rosette is below the keys.
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1578 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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The 8 is doubled. A rosette is below the keys.
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1578 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Rosette below the keys. Several obverse legend letters doubled.
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1578 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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Rosette below the keys. The 8 is doubled.
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1578 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
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Rosette below the keys. The 8 is doubled.
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158L
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158L Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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A rosette is below the keys.
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158L Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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A rosette is below the keys. The gate is angled upward to the right.
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158L Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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A rosette is below the keys. The gate is angled downward to the right. The A of ARGENTEA is huge.
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1579
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1579 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
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A rosette is below the keys.
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1579 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
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A rosette is below the keys.
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1579 Schilling
5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS
5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
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A rosette is below the keys.
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