OBULUS: COIN OF TESCHEN
Obulus, 1653: Duchy of Teschen (Silesia)
Teschen (Cieszyn, Těšín) was one of the Duchies of Silesia (Silesia — a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly inside the contemporary borders of Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany).
Ruler: Ferdinand IV Habsburg — King of Bohemia, King of Hungary and Croatia, King of the Romans, Duke of Teschen.
OBVL. PRINCIPAT. TES.: Latin "Obulus Principatus Tessinensis" — "Obulus of Principality of Teschen".
Coat of arms of Duchy of Teschen (eagle).
SILESIÆ AN. 1653: Silesia, year 1653.
Crowned large Gothic letter "T" (probably from "Teschen" — Teschen Silesia).
Mint-made error (not uncommon for old coins): doubled die (legend obverse).
It is known about the same coin, but with a different legend — "ANNO DOMINI" (instead of "SILESIÆ AN."). Also, some numismatic sources indicate that it is not obulus, but heller.
- Copper: 16 mm - 0.52 g
- Reference price: 7.5$
COIN OBULUS — WHERE & WHEN (coins catalog: by names & emitents)
- DUCHY OF TESCHEN (1650-1655): obulus
- KINGDOM OF HUNGARY (12th-17th centuries): obulus = 1/2 denár
- HUNGARIAN STATES, 13th-17th centuries (Hungarian City of Cattaro, Province of Slavonia, Principality of Transylvania): obulus
As for the name of the coin obulus (sometimes obolus), it can be seen that this term was used to refer to the smallest denomination of coins in some regions of Central Europe (mostly the medieval Hungarian lands).
In general, apparently, this name comes from the ancient Greek coin — obol.
