Lot 2681

Description

Lithuania, Grand Duchy, Vladimiras Algirdas, Grand Prince of Kiev, (1362-1394), silver denaras, Kijevas (Kiev) mint, obv. Military standard, swallowtail banner decorated with cross and pellet in each quarter set on curved arm surmounted by cross, pellets around, rev. Cross patt‚e, legend around, all within pelleted border. (Gumowski 441 [Pl.XVII]). Fine - very fine, areas of flat strike and extremely rare.

Vladimiras (d. after 1398), the son of Algirdas, Grand Duke of Lithuania (1345-1377), was Grand Prince of Kiev from 1362 to 1394. Following the Battle of Blue Waters (1362), in which the Grand Duchy of Lithuania successfully pushed the Golden Horde from Ukraine, the Principality of Kiev fell permanently into the hands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Shortly thereafter, Vladimiras was installed by his father in Kiev. Maintaining an independent rule, Vladimiras began minting his own coins. Initially, his coinage continued the earlier issues of the Golden Horde (perhaps an indication that the principality remained a tributary), but eventually replaced them with his own type.

Upon the accession of Wladyslaw II Jagiello as King of Poland in 1386, Vladimiras swore loyalty to him. Following the Ostrow Agreement, which ended the Lithuanian Civil War, the new Grand Duke of Lithuania, Vytautas removed Vladimiras as Prince, replacing him with his half-brother, Skirgaila. Vladimiras then received the Duchy of Sluckas. He was last mentioned in written sources in October 1398.