NEW BOOK: LITHUANIAN GRAND DUCAL COINS

The first coins of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania are generally anonymous. This fact led to the difficulty of their perception by researchers for many years. Many types received the correct attribution in the last decade only; their metrological studies were virtually not carried out yet. However, it has now become obvious that coinage in the GDL began no later than in the 1370s, possibly even earlier. Stylistically and technologically, the first coins all carry an Eastern appearance, the legends are Cyrillic.

The word Lithuania was mentioned for the first time in the annals of Quedlinburg (year 1009) that the story of Saint Bruno of Querfurt who was beheaded by the pagans on the border of Lithuania and Rus'. Mindowe (about 1200–1263) was the first well known Grand Duke of Lithuania and the only Christian King of Lithuania. The third quarter of the 14th century was marked for the Grand Duchy of Lithuania by unprecedented successes in foreign policy led by Grand Duke Olgerdus (1345–1377, lit. Algirdas, blr. Альгерд).

 

The territory of the state doubled due to the lands that were previously part of Kievan Rus'. Immediately before the establishment of Lithuanian power, many of these lands were under the rule of dukes from the Rurikid dynasty, some of whom were in varying degrees of dependence on the Golden Horde. Keistutus (lit. Kestutis, blr. Кейстут), who had power in the western wing of the state, is considered a diarch in relation to Olgerdus. The brothers jointly deprived of power in the state their brother Iaunutus back in 1345. After the death of Olgerdus, Keistutus accepted the supremacy of his son Iagal (lit. Jogaila, blr. Ягайла), but the disagreements of the dukes finally resulted in the short-term reign of Keistutus over the entire state (1381–1382). Ultimately, Iagal (Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1377–1434, later Wladyslaw II Jagiello, King of Poland in 1386–1434) physically eliminated Keistutus and gained supreme power over the country. Soon he was invited to the Polish throne, which marked the geopolitical turn of the Lithuanian state from East to West.

The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was considered the last pagan state in Europe. In 1385 Iagal converted his country to Catholicism. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania, incorporating Lithuania proper, Belarus, most of Ukraine, parts of today's Russia and Poland, became one of the most influential powers in Eastern Europe (14th–16th century). In a way, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a precursor of the European Union with the latter's adherence to the unity in diversity concept..

 

 

Material type: hardcover.
Publisher: Vilnius, Lithuania: Baltijos kopija, 2022.
Description: 132 pages, English language, color illustrations. ISBN 978-609-417-240-3 .
Price: US $50.00

For more information, see:
Lithuanian Grand Ducal coins before 1401. Free access sampler (https://www.academia.edu/91642171/Lithuanian_Grand_Ducal_coins
_before_1401_Free_access_sampler)

To order, see:
Medieval hammered coins catalogue Lithuanian Grand Ducal Coins Before 1401 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/266017548433)

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