Poland 1/4, 1/2, and 1 Thaler (Sigismund III) (Fakes are possible) 1587 to 1632

Hello Bogdan -- It is very likely you have a 1/4 or 1/2 thaler from Poland under Sigismund III, who reigned between 1587 and 1632. These coins are generally quite valuable. But counterfeits abound, so be sure you have a genuine coin. Comparison images appear below, but it often takes a professional coin authenticator to separate fake coins from genuine coins.

The coin in our primary picture to the right is a 1/4 thaler. The small size of the coin requires shorter inscriptions. Below on this page is a full thaler with full inscriptions. CoinQuest is indebted to Beast Coins in Wisconsin and Kunker GmbH & Co. in Osnabruck for use of the photos of these amazing coins.

Old coins like this are essentially impossible to evaluate without seeing the coin in person. Each coin stands or falls on its own merits. Very, very general price guidance goes like this:

1/4 THALER (18 GROSZY) (28 mm diameter)
worn: $20 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $100
well preserved: $300

1/2 THALER (4 ZLOTYCH) (34 mm diameter)
worn: $300 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $1000
well preserved: $2000

1 THALER (42 mm diameter)
worn: $300 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $1500
well preserved: $2500

Immediately below is a close-up of the front and back of a genuine coin. There are several variations. Below that, a side-by-side comparison shows a real coin and a fake.

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