Zsigmond Báthori, a member of the Báthory family, was born on March 20, 1572 in Várado and died on March 27, 1613 in Libochovice. He was the prince of Transylvania several times between 1586 and 1602, as well as the duke of Racibórz and Opole in Silesia in 1598. When Zsigmond was still a child, at his father's request, he was elected voivode in 1581 alongside his uncle, prince István Báthory. After the death of his uncle, he took over the princely title in 1586. The Parliament declared him of legal age in 1588, but only after he agreed to expel the Jesuits from the country. As a strong supporter of the Catholic religion, he quickly became unpopular among Protestants. He joined the Holy League against the Ottoman Empire, but since he could not convince the Parliament of his plan, in 1594 he handed over the government to his nephew, Báthory Boldizsár. However, not long after, with the help of Captain István Bocskai, he returned to the throne and captured and then murdered the opposition lords and his nephew. He married the Austrian Archduchess Mária Krisztierna, II. Emperor Rudolf's niece, but her marriage was never annulled, presumably because of her homosexuality. In alliance with Prince Mihály Vitéz of Havasalföldi and Prince Ștefan Răzvan of Moldavia, he defeated the Turks at Gyurgyevo, but the triumph was followed by a series of Turkish victories, so he abdicated in 1598. In favor of Rudolf. Bocskai persuaded him to return, but since he could not reach an agreement with the Turks, he resigned again in 1599, this time in favor of his cousin, Cardinal András Báthory.

During the reign of the Transylvanian prince Zsigmond Báthori from 1586 to 1599, the Transylvanian coinage underwent significant development. As a seal of his alliance with the Habsburgs, the prince began minting the gold forint in 1588, which featured his own coat of arms in addition to the Habsburg coat of arms. During the Fifteen Years' War, this money played an important role in trade and financial transactions. Zsigmond Báthory also minted silver coins, among which the 20 krajcár was the most common. On these coins, next to the prince's portrait, "SIGISMUNDUS DG PRINCEPS TRAN. ET SERV. REGIS HUNG." The prince's coinage contributed significantly to the development of the Transylvanian economy. Money played an important role not only in trade and financial transactions, but also in increasing the prince's authority and position of power.