Dahlen (Poland) 1/2 Mark 1573 - Johann Chodkiewicz (1563-1578) - NGC MS 61
"Top Pop", the highest graded in NGC census. An exceptional specimen with fully represented mint luster and exquisite relief details. Very rare in mint state of preservation. Haljak 979 R. Excessively rare.Dahlen Castle, situated near Riga, served as the location for Polish-Lithuanian authorities to mint coins in 1572 and 1573. Among the reasons for coinage was the debt owed by Sigismund II August to the Garrison of Pärnu. The minting operations were overseen by Valentin Überfeld, the king's secretary and vice regent of Pärnu and Dahlen Castle. However, in 1573, the mint faced bankruptcy, leading to the cessation of minting activities.