Stephan Bathory, Groschen 1581, Riga - NGC MS63

An exquisite, selected, mint piece, in a charming patina.
The highest NGC grading note, among those given so far, for the Riga penny of Stefan Batory.
The only piece in the 1581 vintage so highly graded!
In such condition practically unavailable on the collector's market - a great rarity.

Rare, early type of the penny from the Riga mint, with the shields of Poland and Lithuania and the full date at the bottom - on the reverse.
Later, these shields were replaced by a large Riga coat of arms.
Punctuation variant with circles on the obverse and rosettes on the reverse.

Obverse: bust of Stefan Batory in a crown prefixed by an otter legend STEPH◦D◦G◦REX◦PO◦M◦D◦L◦
Reverse: below the crown a rosette and shields with the coats of arms of Poland and Lithuania, below the Riga coat of arms with the full date 1581, in the r im GROSSVS*CIVI*RIGENSIS

An item likely to delight anyone, not only collectors of Royal Polish coins.
For the best collections.