In 1561, Riga obtained the status of Free Imperial City, meaning that it was not subject to any intermediate ruler such as a duke or count, but was directly subject to the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. This status lasted until 1581.

Starting in 1575, Riga used a coin striking machine known as a "Walzwerk," consisting of rolls of obverse and reverse dies. A metal plate was fed between the rolls, receiving impressions of both dies, and the coins were then cut out. This increased the speed that coins could be produced as prior to this coins were struck by hammer blow.

Several denominations were struck, though the most common is the schilling. The standard obverse style shows the coat of arms of Riga (stone portal with two flagged towers, small cross on top, and the head of a lion in the gates), and has the legend CIVITATIS RIGENSIS. The standard reverse style shows the small coat of arms of Riga (two crossed keys with a small cross above), and has the legend MONE NO ARGENTEA. A number of varieties exist, several of which are shown below. Coins are shown at three times their normal diameter for ease in comparing the variations.

While the castle and other imagery varies from coin to coin, the variations identified here primarily consist of differences in the obverse and reverse legends, both in how the legend reads, and how the various components are separated.

Legend separators used on these coins are documented here, and this article describes these coins in greater detail.

Free City Schillings

1575

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 4r MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
Open circle below the keys.

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 6S MONETA 6S NOVA 6S RIGE
The reverse legend is changed to MONETA NOVA RIGE, and the cross above the keys is much larger. Pellet below the keys.

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 6S MONETA 6S NOVA 6S RIGE
The reverse legend is changed to MONETA NOVA RIGE, and the cross above the keys is much larger. Pellet below the keys. The reverse die is the same as previous (later die stage - larger chips, etc.), but the obverse die is different.

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 6S MONETA 6S NOVA 6S RIGE
This coin is identical to the previous one, although both the obverse and reverse dies are more worn.

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS P 6S MONE 6S NO 6S RIGENSIS
RIGENSIS appears on both the obverse and reverse. Pellet below the keys.

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATES F RIGENSIS 4r MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
CIVITATIS is misspelled (last I is an E). Open circle below the keys.

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATES F RIGENSIS 4r MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
CIVITATIS is misspelled (last I is an E). Open circle below the keys.

	1575 Schilling P CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5f MONE 6s NO 6s ARGENTEA
Rosette below the keys.

	1575 Schilling C CIVITATI F RIGENSIS 5f MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
Open circle below the keys.

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVTTATIS F RIGENSIS F MONE 6S NO 6S ARGENTEA
Pellet below the keys.

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVTTATIS F RIGENSIS MONE 6S NO 6S ARGENTEA
Pellet below the keys. The cross above the keys is so high that it is the legend separator.

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 6S MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
Obverse legend begins with a star. Pellet below the keys.

	1575 Schilling P CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 4R MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
Obverse legend begins with a pellet, reverse legend begins with a large 4-petaled rosette.

	1575 Schilling P CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5f MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
Obverse legend begins with a pellet, reverse legend begins with a small 5-petaled rosette. The key handles are decorated with extra dots. Open circle below the keys.

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5f MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
Obverse legend begins with a star, reverse legend begins with a small 5-petaled rosette. Open circle below the keys.

	1575 Schilling C CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS FL MONE FL NO FL ARGENTEA
Small clip at the base. Small open circle separator and below the keys.

	1575 Schilling C CIVITATI F RIGENSIS 5R MONE 5R NO 5R ARGENTEA
Small open circle separator, and below the keys.

	1575 Schilling P CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5f MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
Small open circle separator, and below the keys.

1575 Schilling P CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5f MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA

1575 Schilling 6s CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS lf MONE 6s NO 6s ARGENTEA

1575 Schilling 6s CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS P MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTE

	1575 Schilling P CIVITATIS F RIGENSI 5f MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTA
The A of CIVITATIS is an upside-down V. Pellet below the keys.

	1575 Schilling P CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS P MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTE
Cross high enough to place the pellet to the left. Indent on the reverse - uneven strike? Rosette below the keys.

	1575 Schilling CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5f MONE 5f NO 5f AEGENTEA
Small open circle below the keys. The C of CIVITATIS overlaps the last S of RIGENSIS. The A's on the reverse are upside-down V's.

	1575 Schilling CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5f MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
Small open circle below the keys. The C of CIVITATIS is to the left of 12:00 position. The A's on the reverse are upside-down V's.

	1575 Schilling FL CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5f MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
The flower at the start of the legend is superimposed on the S of RIGENSIS. Small open circle below the keys. The C of CIVITATIS is to the left of 12:00 position.

	1575 Schilling FL CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5f MONE 5f NO 5f ARGENTEA
The flower at the start of the legend is superimposed on the S of RIGENSIS. Small open circle below the keys. The C of CIVITATIS is to the left of 12:00 position.

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 4r MONE 6s NO 6s ARGENTEA
Circle below the keys.

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5f MONE 6s NO 6s ARGENTEA
Circle below the keys.

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 6S MONE 6s NO 6s ARGENTEA
Pellet below the keys.

	1575 Schilling
Circle below the keys.

	1575 Schilling 6S P CIVITATIS F RIENSIS 4r MONE 6s NO 6s ARGENTE
Open circle below the keys.

	1575 Schilling <?> CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
Open circle below the keys. The obverse legend is irregular.

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
Open circle below the keys.

1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONETA 5r NOVA 5r RIGE

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS lf MONE 6S NO 6S ARGENTEA
Open circle below the keys.

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 4r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
Open circle below the keys.

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
Open circle below the keys.

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS F MONE 6S NO 6S ARGENTEA
Closed circle below the keys.

	1575 Schilling 6S CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS P P MONE 5s NO 5s ARGENTE
Star below the keys.

1576

	1576 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
Five-petaled rosette below the keys.

	1576 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 3L MONE 5r NO 5r ARGNTEA
ARGENTEA is misspelled (missing first E). 3 pellets begin the reverse legend. Open circle below the keys.

	1576 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r ARGENTA 5r MONE 5r NO
The reverse legend is rotated, with MONE NO last, followed by ARGENTA. Open circle below keys.

	1576 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r ARGENTA 5r MONE 5r NO
The reverse legend is rotated, with MONE NO last, followed by ARGENTEA. Open circle below keys.

	1576 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
Large pellet below keys.

	1576 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSI 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
Rosette below keys.

	1576 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
Open circle below keys.

	1576 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
Rosette below keys.

	1576 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
The reverse legend has been substantially reworked.

1577

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F R<?>SIS 5r MONE 5R/5r NO 5R ARG<?>TEA
The second rosette on the reverse is a large rosette struck over a small rosette. Small rosette below the keys.

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5R NO 5r ARGENTEA
Large rosette below the keys.

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENIS 5r MONE 5R NO 5R ARGENTE
Rosette below the keys.

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5R NO 5r ARGENTE
The keys on the reverse are so low that they intersect the inner ring. Rosette below the keys.

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5R NO 5r ARGENTEA
Rosette below the keys.

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSI 5r MONE 5R NO 5r ARGENTE
Rosette below the keys.

	1577 Schilling CIVITATI F RIGENIS 5r MONE 5R NO 5r ARGENTE
Rosette below the keys.

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENI 5r MONE 5R NO 5r ARGENTE
Rosette below the keys.

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5R NO 5r ARGENT
Rosette below the keys.

	1577 Schilling CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
Large flower below the keys. Double-struck right key. Last A of ARGENTEA is an upside-down V.

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSI 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
Rosette below the keys.

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
Rosette below the keys.

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATI F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
Rosette below the keys.

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATI? F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
Rosette below the keys.

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATI F RIGENIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
Rosette below the keys.

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATI F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
Rosette below the keys. Very angled 7s. CIVITATI or CIVITATE?

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
Rosette below the keys. Very thin S in RIGENSIS.

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITAT<?> RIGENSIS <?>MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
Rosette below the keys. Open circles beyond the rim of the coin.

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F R<?>SIS "5r MONE 5r NO 5r AR<?>EA
Rosette below the keys. The last A of ARGENTEA is at the 12:00 position, causing the legend sepaarator to be pushed into the rim.

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS P F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
Rosette below the keys. Smeared reverse.

	1577 Schilling C 5r CIVITATIS P F RIGENSI 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
Rosette below the keys. Multiple legend separators

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS P F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
Rosette below the keys.

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENT
Small rosette below the keys. The cross is doubled.

	1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
Large flower below the keys.

1577 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENT

1577 Schilling <?> CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA

15LL

	15LL Schilling 5r/5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
The rosette at the start of the obverse legend is struck over a rosette of the same type. A rosette is below the keys.

	15LL Schilling 5r CIVITATI F RIGENSIS 5r 5r MONE 5R NO 5R ARGENTEA
A rosette is below the keys.

	15LL Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSI 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
On the reverse, a fleur is in place of the cross above the keys. A rosette is below the keys.

	15LL Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r 5r MONE 5R NO 5R ARGETE
On the reverse, a fleur is in place of the cross above the keys. Two rosettes act as the obverse legend separator. A rosette is below the keys.

	15LL Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r 5r MONE 5R NO 5R ARGENTEA
A rosette is below the keys.

	15LL Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r 5r MONE 5R NO 5R ARGENTE
A rosette is below the keys. A fleur is above the cross.

1578

	1578 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS P 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
The reverse has both a pellet and a rosette as a legend separator. A rosette is below the keys.

	1578 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS P 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
The reverse has both a pellet and a rosette as a legend separator. A rosette is below the keys.

	1578 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
Shorter descender on the 7. A rosette is below the keys.

	1578 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
A rosette is below the keys.

	1578 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
The 8 is doubled. A rosette is below the keys.

	1578 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
Rosette below the keys. Several obverse legend letters doubled.

	1578 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
Rosette below the keys. The 8 is doubled.

	1578 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
Rosette below the keys. The 8 is doubled.

158L

	158L Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
A rosette is below the keys.

	158L Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
A rosette is below the keys. The gate is angled upward to the right.

	158L Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
A rosette is below the keys. The gate is angled downward to the right. The A of ARGENTEA is huge.

1579

	1579 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
A rosette is below the keys.

	1579 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTE
A rosette is below the keys.

	1579 Schilling 5r CIVITATIS F RIGENSIS 5r MONE 5r NO 5r ARGENTEA
A rosette is below the keys.