Mennica w Bydgoszczy, Historic mint on Mill Island, Bydgoszcz, Poland
Mennica w Bydgoszczy was a mint complex located on Mill Island with multiple buildings designed to harness the Brda River's water power for processing metals. The facility contained stamping equipment, furnaces, and workshops for every stage of coin production.
The facility was founded in 1594 by royal decree of Sigismund III Vasa and operated until 1688. During its existence, it became the principal minting center for the Polish-Lithuanian state.
The mint was a place where craftspeople from different lands worked together, sharing their metalworking knowledge and techniques. The coins produced here became symbols of royal authority and economic power across the Polish territories.
Visitors can explore the European Money Centre museum on the island, which displays original artifacts including coins, tools, and treasury items from archaeological digs. The site sits directly on the water and is easily accessible on foot from Bydgoszcz's old town.
In 1621, workers here created a 350-gram gold ducat that stands as one of the heaviest coins ever produced in Europe. This extraordinary achievement demonstrates the exceptional skill and ambition of the craftspeople who worked there.
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