Charles Xi Of Sweden - 2 Marks

Charles XI was king of Sweden from 1660 to 1697. Born in November 1655, he was the only son of King Charles X of Sweden and Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp. He was 4 when he was crowned king, so a regency existed until he came of age. Charles used the Scanian War as an excuse to dispense with the Swedish nobility and assume full authority for himself, establishing an absolutist monarchy that ended only many years later with the death of Charles XII in 1718.

I have trouble locating nice portrait pieces of Swedish monarchs of the 17th century. This silver 2 Mark piece, minted during the Regency period, shows the likeness of the King at about age 9.





The arrow between two stars (as) is the mark of the Stockholm Mint official Abraham Kock. Curiously, the 1665 (as) date is not listed in the Krause catalog with this bust type (KM # 243).

This second silver 2 Mark piece, also minted during the Regency period, shows the likeness of the King at about age 14.





The overlay of the letters FIRST on the reverse at 6:00 is the monogram of the Stockholm Mint official Christopher Conradi (KM # 242).

My collection of Charles XI two mark portrait pieces has just expanded by 50%!

On Friday afternoon I received an email from a dealer in NH offering me this piece before he listed on his web site.



This bust type, without drapery, shows the king at about age 17 (KM # 260). The overlay of the letters DF at 6:00 on the reverse is the monogram of the Stockholm Mint official Daniel Faxell. This one looks like it will be the best of the bunch and I can't wait for it to arrive. The dealer has very kindly put it in the mail to me before receiving my check, so it may even be here tomorrow!