Content in Coins

jun 28, 2024 | Coins, Collectors' Guide, Documents, Gold and Silver, History, War

Metal Content in Coins by Century in Scandinavia

The metal content in Scandinavian coins has evolved over the centuries, reflecting economic and technological changes. Initially reliant on foreign coins, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden began minting their own coins primarily in silver during the Middle Ages. The Renaissance saw increased coin production, while the 17th to 19th centuries introduced larger denominations and new metals like copper and nickel. The 20th century marked a transition to modern alloys, with contemporary coins using durable mixtures such as copper-nickel and copper-aluminum-nickel. This evolution mirrors the regions’ economic policies and material availability over time.

Metal Content in Coins by Century in Scandinavia

Introduction

The metal content in coins has a rich history reflecting economic conditions and technological advancements. The choice of metal for coin production has been influenced by availability, cost, and economic policy. Coins often contained multiple metals to combine desired properties such as durability and value. For instance, during times of economic crises or inflation, cheaper metals were used to replace more expensive precious metals. This presentation provides an overview of the metal content in coins from Norway, Denmark, and Sweden through the centuries, including reigning kings for various periods.

Viking Age (800-1050 AD)

9th Century

  • Norway
    • King: Harald Fairhair (c. 872-930)
    • Coins: No known Norwegian coins; bartering and foreign coins were common.
  • Denmark
    • Kings: Gudfred (799-810), Horik I (827-854)
    • Coins: No known Danish coins; use of foreign coins was common.
  • Sweden
    • King: Uncertain, but legendary kings like Björn at Håga are mentioned.
    • Coins: No known Swedish coins; use of foreign coins was common.

10th Century

  • Norway
    • King: Haakon the Good (c. 934-961)
    • Coins: Beginning coin history with imported English coins.
  • Denmark
    • King: Harald Bluetooth (c. 958-986)
    • Coins: Use of English coins, no known Danish coins.
  • Sweden
    • King: Eric the Victorious (c. 970-995)
    • Coins: Use of foreign coins, no known Swedish coins.

Middle Ages (1000-1500 AD)

11th Century

  • Norway
    • King: Olav Haraldsson (St. Olav) (1015-1030)
    • Coins: First Norwegian coins minted by Olav Kyrre.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag)
      • Olav Kyrre: Silver coin, 100% Silver (Ag)
  • Denmark
    • Kings: Sweyn Forkbeard (986-1014), Cnut the Great (1018-1035)
    • Coins: First Danish coins minted by Sweyn Forkbeard.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag)
      • Sweyn Forkbeard: Silver coin, 100% Silver (Ag)
  • Sweden
    • King: Olof Skötkonung (995-1022)
    • Coins: First Swedish coins minted by Olof Skötkonung.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag)
      • Olof Skötkonung: Silver coin, 100% Silver (Ag)

12th Century

  • Norway
    • King: Sigurd the Crusader (1103-1130)
    • Coins: Increased coin production.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag)
      • Sigurd the Crusader: Silver coin, 100% Silver (Ag)
  • Denmark
    • King: Valdemar the Great (1154-1182)
    • Coins: Expanded coin production.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag)
      • Valdemar the Great: Silver coin, 100% Silver (Ag)
  • Sweden
    • King: Sverker the Elder (1130-1156)
    • Coins: Multiple silver coin issues.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag)
      • Sverker the Elder: Silver coin, 100% Silver (Ag)

Renaissance (1300-1600 AD)

13th Century

  • Norway
    • King: Haakon Haakonsson (1217-1263)
    • Coins: Increased production and distribution.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag)
      • Haakon Haakonsson: Silver coin, 100% Silver (Ag)
  • Denmark
    • King: Valdemar Sejr (1202-1241)
    • Coins: Increased coin production.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag)
      • Valdemar Sejr: Silver coin, 100% Silver (Ag)
  • Sweden
    • Leader: Birger Jarl (Regent 1248-1266)
    • Coins: Continued use of silver in coin production.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag)
      • Birger Jarl: Silver coin, 100% Silver (Ag)

14th Century

  • Norway
    • King: Haakon V Magnusson (1299-1319)
    • Coins: Increased use in trade.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag)
      • Haakon V Magnusson: Silver coin, 100% Silver (Ag)
  • Denmark
    • King: Valdemar Atterdag (1340-1375)
    • Coins: Stabilization of coin production.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag)
      • Valdemar Atterdag: Silver coin, 100% Silver (Ag)
  • Sweden
    • King: Magnus Eriksson (1319-1364)
    • Coins: Increased coin production.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag)
      • Magnus Eriksson: Silver coin, 100% Silver (Ag)

Early Modern Period (1500-1800 AD)

15th Century

  • Norway
    • King: Christian I (1450-1481)
    • Coins: Increased number of coins in circulation.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag)
      • Christian I: Silver coin, 100% Silver (Ag)
  • Denmark
    • King: Christian I (1448-1481)
    • Coins: More standardized coin production.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag)
      • Christian I: Silver coin, 100% Silver (Ag)
  • Sweden
    • King: Karl Knutsson Bonde (1448-1457, 1464-1465, 1467-1470)
    • Coins: Continued use of silver in coins.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag)
      • Karl Knutsson Bonde: Silver coin, 100% Silver (Ag)

16th Century

  • Norway
    • King: Christian III (1537-1559)
    • Coins: Introduction of larger coins.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag)
      • Christian III: Speciedaler, 100% Silver (Ag)
  • Denmark
    • King: Christian III (1534-1559)
    • Coins: Increased production and standardization.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag)
      • Christian III: Speciedaler, 100% Silver (Ag)
  • Sweden
    • King: Gustav Vasa (1523-1560)
    • Coins: First Swedish gold coins.
      • Metals: Gold (Au), Silver (Ag)
      • Gustav Vasa: Gold coin, 90% Gold (Au), 10% Silver (Ag)

Modern Period (1800-Present)

17th Century

  • Norway
    • King: Christian IV (1588-1648)
    • Coins: Continued large silver coins.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag), Copper (Cu)
      • Christian IV: Speciedaler, 100% Silver (Ag), Skilling, 100% Copper (Cu)
  • Denmark
    • King: Christian IV (1588-1648)
    • Coins: Continued large silver coins.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag), Copper (Cu)
      • Christian IV: Speciedaler, 100% Silver (Ag), Skilling, 100% Copper (Cu)
  • Sweden
    • King: Gustavus Adolphus (1611-1632)
    • Coins: Introduction of large copper coins.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag), Copper (Cu)
      • Gustavus Adolphus: Speciedaler, 100% Silver (Ag), Öre, 100% Copper (Cu)

18th Century

  • Norway
    • King: Christian VI (1730-1746)
    • Coins: Increased use of copper coins.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag), Copper (Cu)
      • Christian VI: Speciedaler, 100% Silver (Ag), Skilling, 100% Copper (Cu)
  • Denmark
    • King: Christian VI (1730-1746)
    • Coins: Increased use of copper coins.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag), Copper (Cu)
      • Christian VI: Speciedaler, 100% Silver (Ag), Skilling, 100% Copper (Cu)
  • Sweden
    • King: Gustav III (1771-1792)
    • Coins: Continued use of silver and copper.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag), Copper (Cu)
      • Gustav III: Riksdaler, 100% Silver (Ag), Öre, 100% Copper (Cu)

19th Century

  • Norway
    • King: Oscar I (1844-1859)
    • Coins: Introduction of the krone currency.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni)
      • Oscar I: Speciedaler, 100% Silver (Ag), Skilling, 100% Copper (Cu), Krone: Silver (Ag) for higher denominations, Nickel (Ni) for lower denominations
  • Denmark
    • King: Christian IX (1863-1906)
    • Coins: Introduction of the krone currency.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni)
      • Christian IX: Speciedaler, 100% Silver (Ag), Skilling, 100% Copper (Cu), Krone: Silver (Ag) for higher denominations, Nickel (Ni) for lower denominations
  • Sweden
    • King: Oscar II (1872-1907)
    • Coins: Introduction of the krone currency.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni)
      • Oscar II: Riksdaler, 100% Silver (Ag), Skilling, 100% Copper (Cu), Krone: Silver (Ag) for higher denominations, Nickel (Ni) for lower denominations

20th Century

  • Norway
    • King: Haakon VII (1905-1957)
    • Coins: Transition to modern alloys.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag), Copper-nickel (CuNi: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel), Bronze (CuSn: 95% Copper, 5% Tin), Aluminum (Al)
      • Haakon VII: 1 Krone: Silver (Ag) (until 1920s), later Copper-nickel (CuNi), 50 Øre: Silver (Ag) (until 1920s), later Copper-nickel (CuNi) and Bronze (CuSn), 10 Øre: Copper-nickel (CuNi), later Aluminum (Al)
  • Denmark
    • King: Christian X (1912-1947)
    • Coins: Transition to modern alloys.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag), Copper-nickel (CuNi: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel), Bronze (CuSn: 95% Copper, 5% Tin), Aluminum (Al)
      • Christian X: 1 Krone: Silver (Ag) (until 1920s), later Copper-nickel (CuNi), 50 Øre: Silver (Ag) (until 1920s), later Copper-nickel (CuNi) and Bronze (CuSn), 10 Øre: Copper-nickel (CuNi), later Aluminum (Al)
  • Sweden
    • King: Gustaf V (1907-1950)
    • Coins: Transition to modern alloys.
      • Metals: Silver (Ag), Copper-nickel (CuNi: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel), Bronze (CuSn: 95% Copper, 5% Tin), Aluminum (Al)
      • Gustaf V: 1 Krone: Silver (Ag) (until 1920s), later Copper-nickel (CuNi), 50 Öre: Silver (Ag) (until 1920s), later Copper-nickel (CuNi) and Bronze (CuSn), 10 Öre: Copper-nickel (CuNi), later Aluminum (Al)

21st Century

  • Norway
    • King: Harald V (1991-present)
    • Coins: Modern coins with durable alloys.
      • Metals: Copper-nickel (CuNi: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel), Copper-aluminum-nickel (CuAlNi: 92% Copper, 6% Aluminum, 2% Nickel)
      • Harald V: 1 Krone: Copper-nickel (CuNi), 5 Kroner: Copper-nickel (CuNi), 10 Kroner: Core of Copper-aluminum-nickel (CuAlNi) surrounded by Copper-nickel (CuNi)
  • Denmark
    • Queen: Margrethe II (1972-present)
    • Coins: Modern coins with durable alloys.
      • Metals: Copper-nickel (CuNi: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel), Copper-aluminum-nickel (CuAlNi: 92% Copper, 6% Aluminum, 2% Nickel)
      • Margrethe II: 1 Krone: Copper-nickel (CuNi), 5 Kroner: Copper-nickel (CuNi), 10 Kroner: Core of Copper-aluminum-nickel (CuAlNi) surrounded by Copper-nickel (CuNi)
  • Sweden
    • King: Carl XVI Gustaf (1973-present)
    • Coins: Modern coins with durable alloys.
      • Metals: Copper-nickel (CuNi: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel), Copper-aluminum-nickel (CuAlNi: 92% Copper, 6% Aluminum, 2% Nickel)
      • Carl XVI Gustaf: 1 Krone: Copper-nickel (CuNi), 5 Kronor: Copper-nickel (CuNi), 10 Kronor: Core of Copper-aluminum-nickel (CuAlNi) surrounded by Copper-nickel (CuNi)

References

  • Norges Bank. (2023). Norges mynter.
  • Danmarks Nationalbank. (2023). Møntudgivelser.
  • Sveriges Riksbank. (2023). Mynt och sedlar.
  • Numismatic sources and economic reports.

This outline includes the specified periods and provides detailed information on the kings and the metal content of coins for each century in Scandinavia.

#Taggs

#Numismatics, #CoinHistory, #Scandinavia, #Norway, #Denmark, #Sweden, #MedievalCoins, #RenaissanceCoins, #ModernCoins, #EconomicHistory, #MetalContent,

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