NEW BOOK: RUTHENIAN COINAGE OF LITHUANIA

Regional coinage on Ruthenian lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania at the end of 14 c.
by Dzmitry Huletski, Konstantin Petrunin, Andrey Yakovlev

Great Duchy of Lithuania was on unprecedented rise in 14 c. Over one hundred years its area expanded several times thanks to annexation of former lands of Polackian duchy & Kievan Rus. Many of these lands at the brink of Lithuanian conquest were governed by members of Rurickovichs, some were more or less controlled by Golden Horde. Weakening of mongol state in late 14 century facilitated eastward expansion of GDL. And shortly afterwards local currency emissions began spreading out in former area of Juchid dang circulation. Mints may have been controlled by Hediminovichs or by members of local elites.

Coins bearing emitent's name or symbols amount to maybe less than half of such coin types, majority of coins were imitating Juchid dangs and authorization of their issue remains more or less murky. Imitational coinage allowed to fill local money supply with type of coins known to population of these areas and economical reasons may have been prevailing over political declarations especially in borderlands. Regional coinage mirrored existing monetary system, with various weight standards and ratios to Juchid dang.

 

After Olgerd's death and in times of constant civil wars between Hediminovichs local centers of emission began appearing in western part of GDL as well – in Podolie, Volyn, Belcs and Novagrudak. Practically the whole regional coinage is dated last third of 14 c. At the beginning of next century all regional coinages discontinued and Vitovts unified currency began spreading over the whole nation accompanied only by international trade currency Prague grosz and silver ingots.

 

This study is a result of collection and analysis of various data on regional currency issues of GDL on newly annexed Ruthenian lands in the 1370-1400 years. Our aim was to put together results of previous studies and bring forward a catalogue of all coin types known by the date of publication. Over 3000 specimens have been studied with more than 1000 die links introduced in this book, with graphic reconstructions and weight data where available.

 

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