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King Christian IV: 4 Speciedaler 1624. Estimate: DKK 200,000 (€ 27,000).
King Christian IV: 4 Speciedaler 1624. Estimate: DKK 200,000 (€ 27,000).

Press release -

Gold and Silver from Christian IV

The biggest coin auction of the spring will be held at Bruun Rasmussen in Copenhagen on Tuesday 8 May, where 530 hand-picked coins, medals and banknotes will come under the hammer. The biggest highlight is an extremely large 4 Speciedaler from 1624, made of silver from the Norwegian mountains at Kongsberg west of Oslo.

The auction includes material all the way back from antiquity and up to the 20th century, but there is an unusually fine collection from the 17th century that deserves to be mentioned here. It is especially the coins from Denmark's popular King Christian IV (1588-1648) that stand out. The collection sheds light on many of the aspects of the interesting and turbulent currency production of the time.

The first Danish kroner coin, "Corona Danica", was introduced already in 1618. These coins depict Christian IV in full standing figure on the front and the King's own crown on the reverse. There are several fine examples of this early coin at the auction. Despite a significant output, the currency reform of the Danish kroner in 1618 was not a success. This was due, among other things, to Christian IV's enormous spending on building projects as well as the cost of the Thirty Years’ War (1618-48).

The Mining Adventure in Kongsberg

However, Christian IV was a lucky king when it came to finances since large silver deposits were discovered west of Oslo in 1624. This resulted in a mining adventure at the new town of Kongsberg, where the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway established its own supply of silver. From 1624, more and larger coins were produced than ever before, many of which have found their way to our coin auction this spring. Most impressive is a 4 Speciedaler 1624 weighing a total of 116 grams, which is one of the auction's absolute highlights. It is a very rare type in an exceptionally beautiful example with a fine patina and without any of the usual dents and polishing marks.

In one of his diaries, Christian IV writes the following on 31 March 1624: "Given by Nicolas Schwabe, 140 Rigsdaler in Specie, which were made by Norwegian silver". There is, therefore, no doubt that the auction's beautiful 4 Speciedalerfrom 1624 is among the first Danish-Norwegian coins that were minted in silver from Kongsberg shortly after silver was discovered in the Norwegian mountains.

Ducats for the Christian King

Worth noting is also the auction's beautiful gold ducats from 1644-1646, which were made with the text ”Gud er en retfærdig dommer” (God is a fair judge). This text refers to the Swedish attack on Denmark in 1643, where troops invaded Jutland without a declaration of war. The need for money during the wars was great – and Christian IV had to pawn his royal crown and have many of his silver furniture pieces melted down into substandard war coins. Beautiful and rare examples of these silver coins are now up for auction.

Preview and Auction

The coin auction will be held on Tuesday 8 May from 10 am to 5 pm at Bruun Rasmussen on Baltikavej 10 in Copenhagen. The preview will take place at the same address on Thursday 26 April from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday 7 May from 10 am to 5 pm and Tuesday 8 May from 8:30 am until the auction ends.

Prior to the auction, selected highlights will be on display at Hotel Continental, Stortingsgaten 24/26 in Oslo on Tuesday 24 April from 3 to 7 pm.

View all the lots from the coin auction here

Press photos

878/73: 4 Speciedaler 1624, H 58, S 1, Aagaard F2 / Bx, Dav. 3521, 116.38 g. Very rare type in an exceptionally beautiful example. Estimate: DKK 200,000 (€ 27,000).

878/92: 2 kroner 1618, H 105A, S 5, Sieg 87.1 / 87.3, Dav. 3516, 37.41 g. Beautiful example of Nicolaus Schwabe’s wonderful "Corona Danica". Estimate: DKK 7,000 (€ 940).

878/61: Ducat 1646, "Hebrew legend", H 33, Sieg 128.2, S 3, F 39. Well-minted example from this rare year. Estimate: DKK 30,000 (€ 4,050).

878/112: 2 mark 1646, H 148, S 54, Sieg 76.2, 10,72 g. Beautiful example from a rare year. Estimate: DKK 4,000 (€ 335).

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Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers is one of Scandinavia’s leading international auction houses, and one of Denmark’s oldest. It all started on 6 October 1948, when Arne Bruun Rasmussen conducted the first traditional auction in the saleroom at Bredgade 33 in Copenhagen. Today, Jesper Bruun Rasmussen stands at the helm of the family-run business together with the third generation of the family, his son Frederik and daughter Alexa, and the company’s CEO Jakob Dupont.

In 2004, the first online auction was launched, and today the auction house has expanded to include departments in Copenhagen and Aarhus and representations in Sweden, Germany, England, France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Spain, Italy, Thailand and the US. About 100,000 lots are put up for auction each year at the traditional auctions and daily online auctions. Here you can bid on everything from art, antiques, modern design and jewellery to books, coins, stamps, wine and weaponry.

Contacts

Kirstine Dam Frihed

Kirstine Dam Frihed

Press contact +45 8818 1064

Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers

Bruun Rasmussen has since 1948 sold art, design, jewellery, wristwatches, antiques and collectibles such as wine, books, coins and stamps. As the leading auction house in Denmark, we sell over 75,000 items every year at our Online Auctions at bruun-rasmussen.dk and at Live Auctions at the auction house in Lyngby.

Our specialists are the most experienced and competent in the industry. The work in the auction house places great demands on our knowledge of art and trends on the market. This way, we can provide valuations and advice of the highest quality – which has become our trademark – and thereby offer the best lots from all categories and achieve high hammer prices for the benefit of our customers.

At Bruun Rasmussen, we are one of Europe's most modern and digital auction houses, and it is only natural for us to adapt to changes in the market. Innovation is part of our DNA, while we are also deeply rooted in our history.

In 2022, after having been family-owned through three generations, we became part of the international “Bonhams Network”, expanding our global reach and access to specialists all over the world. We strategically present and sell art where it makes the most sense in relation to potential buyers.

Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers

Nørgaardsvej 3
2800 Kongens Lyngby
Denmark

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