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Long currency Baltic tribes; Round-edge type
| Issuer | Baltic tribes |
|---|---|
| Year | 1001-1500 |
| Type | Proto coin |
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| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Elongated cast silver bar of rectangular cross-section with rounded edges and tapering ends, characteristic of Baltic currency ingots of the medieval period. The surface exhibits incised geometric decoration consisting of diagonal hatched or chevron-pattern lines arranged in bands across the central zone, creating a deliberate ornamental field. The overall form is consistent with the 'grivna' or rod-money type circulated among Baltic and East European tribal cultures during the 11th–15th centuries. Surface texture is slightly granular from casting, with natural oxidation patina across the entire piece. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
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| Edge | Log in to see details |
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| Mintage | ND (1001-1500) |
| Additional information |
These heavy cast silver pieces functioned as weighed currency across the eastern Baltic trading networks, where coins were valued by metal content rather than face denomination. Scandinavian, Byzantine, and Islamic dirhams all circulated alongside them, and the "long currency" form — essentially a standardized ingot — emerged partly as a response to the chaos of mixed coinage arriving via the Varangian trade routes.
The rounded edge distinguishes this type from the faceted or ribbed variants produced by neighboring groups, a difference that likely reflects regional workshop tradition rather than any issuing authority's decree. No centralized mint existed; production was local and demand-driven.