Livonia (Under Sweden)
Livonia is historic area on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. The area is much of what is now Latvia and Estonia.
1660-1697
Silver Solidus
Queen Christina - Queen of Sweden
Obverse: Coat of arms of Riga and the Christina around the rim
Reverse: Swedish Coat of Arms in the center and two digit date and denomination around the rim
Queen Christina of Sweden was one of the most educated, wittiest, unconventional and unorthodox women of the 17th century. She succeeded her father to the throne of Sweden in 1632 when she was just six. She studied philosophy, religion, art, mathematics and science with a great passion. She was was a coin collector and had over 33,000 coins and medals. She knew at least 9 languages. In 1638 the first Swedish settlement in the New World was named after her, Fort Christina, which is now Wilmington Delaware. She was warmly received by Pope Alexander VII and even given her own wing at the Vatican. She was a big supporter of the arts and theater. Not following the norms of the time she also freely socialized with men and even had an intimate relationship with her handmaiden.
Coins of this era were used to pay duties to the church, taxes to the state and occasionally found in commerce. These coins are crude in manufacture and are often found off center or with clipped planchets or other defects. These particular coins are all very nice condition many still showing mint luster and little to no circulation.
**The picture(s) are representative of the condition and appearance of this coin. The coin will be picked at random and will be in similar appearance to the one shown**