***Early Modern period coin dataset from Estonia***

Authors: Maria Smirnova, Mari-Liis Posti
Institute of History and Archaeology, University of Tartu; Archaeological Research Collection, Tallinn University
Corresponding author: Maria Smirnova
Contact information: maria.smirnova@ut.ee

***Dataset structure***
The dataset consists of the following components:
README.txt – this file
Dataset.zip – folder containing scans and photographs of Early Modern period coins, organised by coin type and side (obverse/reverse).
Metadata.csv – table containing metadata about coin types, collection numbers and findspots.
Metadata_description.pdf – explanation of each column in the metadata table.  

***Temporal coverage***
The dataset covers coins from the Early Modern period (16th–17th centuries).

***Geographical coverage***
The dataset represents coins found in Estonia.

***Dataset overview and acquisition***
The dataset consists of 36,526 images of the obverse and reverse of 18,269 archaeological coins. 4,586 photographs of coins were taken in January and March 2024 in the Archaeological Collection of the University of Tartu, and 31,940 images were produced through scanning in 2025 and 2026 in the Archaeological Research Collections of Tallinn University and the Archaeological Collection of the University of Tartu, as part of the KUM-TA4 project. The dataset contains 19 different coin types. 

Metadata on coin types and findspots were collected from the Tallinn University Archaeology Research Collection database (TALAR) and the University of Tartu Archaeological Data Information System (ARHUT).  

***Dataset folder structure***
The dataset is organised into image folders and an accompanying metadata table. For each coin type, images are grouped into separate folders for obverse and reverse sides.
Where both scanned and photographic images are available, these are further subdivided into subfolders.

 ***List of coin types***
Type 1. Hermann von Brüggenei, Livonian Order, Tallinn Schilling (1535–1549)
Type 2. Alexander Jagiellon, Vilnius ½ Groschen (1492–1506)
Type 3. Sigismund I the Old, Vilnius ½ Groschen (1506–1548) 
Type 4. Sigismund II Augustus, Vilnius ½ Groschen (1547–1572)  
Type 5. Sigismund III Vasa, Riga schilling (1587–1632) 
Type 6. Gotthard Kettler, Jelgava Schilling (1562–1587) 
Type 7. Dole Schilling (1572)
Type 8. Free City of Riga Schilling (1561–1581)
Type 9. John III of Sweden, Tallinn Schilling (1571–1585)
Type 10. Christina of Sweden, Riga Schilling (1632–1654)
Type 11. Christina of Sweden, Livonian schilling (1632–1654)  
Type 12. Ivan the Terrible, Kopeck (1533–1584)
Type 13. Ivan the Terrible, Denga (1533–1584)
Type 14. Feodor I of Russia, Kopeck (1584–1598) 
Type 15. Boris Godunov, Kopeck (1598–1605)
Type 16. False Dmitry I, Kopeck (1605–1606)
Type 17. Vasili IV of Russia, Kopeck (1606–1607)
Type 18. Michael I of Russia, Kopeck (1613–1645)
Type 19. Aleksei I of Russia, Kopeck (1645–1676)

***Purpose of the dataset***
The dataset can be used for archaeological or numismatic research and for machine learning experiments.

***Usage and licensing***
The dataset is intended for research and educational purposes.
If reused, proper citation of this dataset and the associated collections is required.

***Citation***
When using this dataset, please cite the dataset itself (DOI) and reference collection numbers (starting with AI or TÜ) provided in the metadata when referring to individual objects.

***File formats***
Images are stored in .png format.
Metadata is provided as a .csv file.


***Funding information***
Compilation of this dataset was supported by the Estonian Ministry of Culture as part of the Estonian Cultural Research and Development Programme 2023–2026, project no. KUM-TA 4.