Watch List notes:

Poland 18 Groszy 1656 Lviv. John II Casimir Vasa (1649–1668). Obverse: Crowned portrait bust right. Reverse: Crowned shield. Silver. Small surface damage. Kop. 1745 (R3) RARE The history of minting Lviv orts. It begins after the heroic defense of Lviv from the besieging Moscow and Cossack troops. At a time when the cities of the crown fell under the onslaught of the Swedes; it was the victorious Lvov that became the destination of King Jan Casimir. Upon arrival in the city in February; already on March 1 1656; due to the need to pay the troops; he issued a universal order to open a mint. Silver for the production of orts and shestaks was obtained from requisitioned silverware from church vaults; starting on May 15 and ending in just 37 weeks. Coins minted at that time are of poor workmanship; typical for military issues. In the workshop organized in Lviv; not masters of the mint worked; but city masters. Coins were minted in the old way; stamps were cut by hand; in haste; hence their great variety. These factors have led to rather poor legibility and poor condition of the coins in circulation. And some are made of defective silver sheet.