Vladimiras Algirdas, Grand Prince of Kiev, 1362-1394

CNG 91, Lot: 1407. Estimate $500. Sold for $500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LITHUANIA, Grand Duchy. Vladimiras Algirdas. Grand Prince of Kiev, 1362-1394. AR Denaras (12mm, 0.21 g). Kijevas (Kiev) mint. Military standard: swallowtail banner decorated with cross and pellet in each quarter set on curved arm surmounted by cross; pellets around / Cross pattée; pellets in quarters; all within pelleted border. S. Sajauskas. “Pirmųjų Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštysės monetų ypatybės,” in Pinigų studijos (Vilnius, 2004), pp. 83-4; Kotlyar Type II; Gumowski 440; I&D 11:11. VF, areas of flat strike, traces of deposits. 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 Władysław II Jagiełło as King of Poland in 1386, Vladimiras swore loyalty to him. Following the Ostrów 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.