Monetary Studies
Volume V No4 December 2001
Research Papers

PROCESS OF SEIGERN WITHIN PRAGUE GROATS IN LITHUANIA: FACTS AND MYTHS  
Vytautas Smilgevicius

In this article, the author discusses the process of the so-called seigern within the Prague groats of Wenzel IV (1378–1419) found in the Vilnius Gvazdiku street hoard, kept in the National Museum of Lithuania. Initially, the author forms a hypothesis that seigern did exist. Seigern could mean sorting of coins according to their weight – putting into circulation lighter ones and restriking those heavier into new coins. In German literature it is said that "seigern" was committed with respect to small coins – bracteates, denarii’s, etc. and not to groats, while in Polish literature there are no restrictions.

The author uses the typology system employed by him earlier, i. e. a system of three ordinations of Wenzel IV is used:

The author also discusses the financial aspect of seigern and finds that it could not be very profitable within the territory of Lithuania as it could bring annual interest of only about 4 per cent. The normal interest in the medieval Europe stood at 40–60 per cent, which means it could be more profitable to lend money than to travel to Kutna Hora mint in Czechia.

Full article in Lithuanian language

Source of information: Bank of Lithuania. www.lbank.lt

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