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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.
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GVILHELM D G A E RI P MONETA NOVA RIGE |
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STEP D G REX P D L III / 1586 / GR OS / ARG TRIP / CIVI / RE / GE |
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| Riga under Polish control. | |
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| Riga under Polish control. | |
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HOKEJA / KOMANDA / DINAMO / RIGA RIGA |
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CIVITATIS RIGEN X MONETA 5R NOVA 5R ARGENTE |
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CIVITATIS RIGENS X MONETA 5S NOVA 5S ARGEN |
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CIVITATIS RIGEN X MONETA 5R NOVA 5R ARGENTE |
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6S CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS 5r MONETA 5r NOVA 5r ARGEN |
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6S CIVITATIS 6S RIGENSIS 5r MONETA 5r NOVA 5r ARGEN |
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6s CIVITATIS 6s RIGENSIS 5r MONETA 5r NOVA 5r ARGEN |
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6s CIVITATIS 6s RIGENSIS 5r MONETA 5r NOVA 5r ARGEN |
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6s CIVITATIS 6s RIGENSIS 5r MONETA 5r NOVA 5r RIGE |
| Same reverse as the last Archbishop issue. | |
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5s EF MONETA 5s NOVA 5s ARGE 5s EF CIVITATIS 5s RIGENSIS |
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EF MONETA 5s NOVA 5s ARGEN EF CIVITATIS 5s RIGENSIS |
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5s EF CIVITATIS 5s RIGENS EF MONETA 5s NOVA 5s ARGE |
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CIVITATIS5s RIGENS MONE 5s NOVA 5s ARGE |
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EF CIVITATIS RIGENS EF MONETA P NOVA P ARGE |
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EF CIVITATIS RIGEN EF MONETA P NO P ARG |
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EF MONETA P NOVA P ARG EF MONETA NOVA ARGEN |
| The reverse legend is used on the obverse. | |
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EF CIVITATIS 5s RIGENS EF MONETA 5s NOVA 5s ARG |
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EF CIVITATIS RIGENS EF MONETA NOVA ARG |
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EF CIVITATIS RIGEN EF MONETA NOVA ARG |
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EF CIVITATIS RIGEN EF MONETA P NO P <?> |
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EF CIVITATIS P RIGENS <?> MONETA P NO P ARGE <?> |
| The V of CIVITATIS is an upside-down A. | |
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EF CIVITATIS P RIGEN EF MONETA NO 3P ARG |
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EF CIVITATIS P RIGENIS EF MONE<?> NO P ARG |
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EF MONETA NO ARG EF MONETA NO <?> |
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EF CIVITATIS P RIGENSI EF MONETA P NO P ARG |
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EF CIVITATIS 2P RIGEN EF MONETA NO ARG |
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EF CIVITATIS RIGEN EF MONETA NO ARG |
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EF CIVITATIS 2P RIGEN EF MONETA NO ARG |
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EF CIVITATIS RIGEN EF MONETA P NO P ARG |
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6S CIVITATIS P RIGENS 6S MONETA 5s NO 5s ARGEN |
| Actually undated, or missing a date due to a striking error (later 1569-74 castle style)? | |
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FL CIVITATIS RIGENS FL MONETA NO ARG |
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2P FL CIVITATIS RIGENSSIS FL MONETA NO ARGEN |
| There are two Ss in RIGENSIS. Larger, post-69 dome. | |
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FL CIVITATIS RIGENSI FL MONETA NO ARGEN |
| Larger, post-69 dome. | |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI FL MONETA P NO P ARGENTE |
| Larger, post-69 dome, dots on either side and gate? below. | |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENS FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
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| The coin is double-struck, with parts of each legend on both faces. | |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGEN FL MONETA P NO P ARGE |
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2P CIVITATIS P RIGEN 2P MONETA P NO P ARE |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI FL MONETA P NO P ARGE |
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FL CIVITATIS RIGENSI FL MONETA P NO P ARGE |
| Larger, post-69 dome. The gate appears to be raised. | |
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FL CIVITATIS RIGEN FL MONETA P NO P ARGE |
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FL CIVITATIS RIGEN FL MONETA P NO P ARGE |
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CIVITATIS RIGEN 2P MONETA P NO P ARGE |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENS FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
| Much obverse doubling. | |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENS FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENS FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
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FL CIVITATIS P P RIGENSI FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
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FL CIVITATIS 2P RIGENSI FL MONETA P NO P ARGENT |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
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FL CIVITATIS 2P RIGENNS FL MONECEN ... MON ... N |
| Reverse double struck after rotation? | |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
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FL CIVITATIS 2P RIGENSIS FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
| Pellets on either side of the gate. | |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENS FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
| Pellets on either side of the gate. | |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
| Pellets on either side of the gate, and a clear "drawbridge?" | |
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FL CIVITATIS 2P RIGENSI FL MONETA P NO P ARGENT |
| Drawbridge, pellets surrounding the gate, and an unusual 3-column dome. | |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
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FL CIVITATIS RIGENSI FL MONETA 2P NO 2P ARGENT |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS FL MONETA P NO P ARGENT |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI FL MONETA P NO P ARGENT |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS FL MONETA P NO P ARGENT |
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FL CIVITATIS P C ARGESIS FL CIVITAETA P NO P ARGEN |
| Flip-over double strike. | |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS FL MONETA P NO P ARGENT |
| Very large V in CIVITATIS. | |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS FL MONETA P NO P ARGENT |
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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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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS FL MONETA P NO P NO P ARGENT |
| Double struck, most easily seen in the reverse legend and flatness in the 7 and keys. | |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSI FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS FL MONETA P NO P ARGENT |
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CCVVITATIS P RIGENSIS FL MOO(N)ET P NO P ARGENT |
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FL CIVITATIS RIGENSI FL MONETA P NO P ARGENT |
| Upside-down 7. | |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS PL MONETA P NO P ARGENT |
| Plumes. | |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS PL MONETA P NO P ARGENT |
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FL C<?>TIS 3B RIGENSIS <?> MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
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FL CIVITATIS 3B RIGENSIS PL MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
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FL CIVITATIS 3B RIGENSIS PL MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
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FL CIVITATIS 3B RIGENSIS PL MONETA P NO P ARGENT |
| Pellet below the keys. | |
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FL CIVITATIS 3B RIGENSIS PL MONETA P NO P ARGENT |
| Pellet below the keys. | |
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FL CIVITATIS 6s RIGENSIS PL MONETA P NO P ARGENT |
| 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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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS FL MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
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FL CIVITATIS 6S RIGENSIS CR1 MONETA P NO P ARGENT |
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FL CIVITATIS CR2 RIGENSIS PL MONETA P NO P ARGENT |
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FL CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS PL MONETA P NO P ARGENT |
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6s CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS PL2 MONETA P NO P ARGEN |
| Pellet below the keys. | |
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6s CIVITATIS P RIGENSIS PL2 MONETA P NO P ARGEN |