The Piast Dukes of Cieszyn minted their coins. The oldest known Cieszyn coin dates from the end of the 14th century. From 1643, the ducal mint was located in the building on today’s Mint Street. It ceased operations in 1655, two years after the death of the last Piast ruler, Elizabeth Lucretia. The quality of Cieszyn coins was not the best. In 1654, in the neighbouring Republic of Poland a pamphlet bearing the title "Szeląg, piętak, groszyk cieszyński, dobru pospolitemu w Polsce szkodliwy" was published which mocked the Cieszyn coins and alleged they were harmful to the common good. In 1704, the former mint building was bought by Baron Jerzy Frederick Bludowski, who renovated it and made it his municipal residence. Nowadays, it houses a kind of centre for researchers interested in Cieszyn’s past – it is the seat of both the Cieszyn Historical Library, a scientific library with an impressive collection, and the Cieszyn branch of the State Archives in Katowice.
Since 1996, it has housed the Printing Museum, founded by Karol Franek, a long-time employee of the Cieszyn Publishing Printing House.
author: Michael Morys-Twarowski
