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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,957 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
I ran across this coin recently in a book. Before I post the details, any guesses as which country issued it?  Edited by DVCollector
08/31/2011 11:44 am
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Moderator
 Australia
16805 Posts |
The arms and titles are those of Denmark.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United States
505 Posts |
I believe you are correct Sap..Christian VII was king of Denmark
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1801 Posts |
It's known as a Greenland Dollar and was struck for use in the orient to compete with the more popular Spanish pillar dollars. Actual name of the coin is a "Christian VII Danish Asiatic Company Piastre". Very rare and very valuable and a nice specimen, I believe there are less than 30 known if my memory serves me.
Edited by jfransch
08/31/2011 11:45 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Czech Republic
803 Posts |
Ah, the famous Greeland Dollar. I believe I watched the coin you've linked on Heritage a few years back sell for around $50,000.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
10045 Posts |
It's fascinating how they copied aspects of the "pillar 8R/dollar" to make it desirable for trade. You guys got the ID right  There's nothing left for me to do, other than fix that date to 1777.  It sold for $46,000 on Heritage |
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
510 Posts |
This coin is Norwegian. Heritage got it wrong. Denmark have a similar one, but a trained eye will spot the difference.
Christian VII was, of course, king of both Denmark and Norway.
Edited by Litotes
08/31/2011 1:31 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Litotes, I was wondering about that--apparently there are several versions in my Siegs catalog, under both Norway and Denmark.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
510 Posts |
DVCollector, that is true. There are indeed several versions. It is, however, no doubt that this particular one is Norwegian. It was discovered before the auction, and lots of Norwegian collectors followed the proceedings with interest. And the coin now resides safely in Norway. I know the buyer.
I have also seen one of these up close, it was auctioned away in Oslo a year ago. Very nice coin indeed.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
That is a great story how the Norwegian collectors caught that--and that the winning bidder brought the coin "home." Is the Norwegian version scarcer? Maybe someday I'll be good enough to tell. I like this coin because it tells a story of trade conditions at the time. |
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Pillar of the Community
Norway
510 Posts |
The Norwegian coin is a little scarcer. Not much, though. But prices for Norwegian coins are higher than Danish for similar rarity. One of the reasons is that there are much more Danish coins available in total, so fewer Danes go after "Everything". Another reason is trend and economy, I suppose. This very coin - known to be Norwegian - was in a very large Danish collection before it was bought by an American in 2001. I suppose this buyer sold it on Heritage. It could of course have changed hands more times since. Anyway, the point being - earlier we saw many of the best Norwegian coins on foreign hands, often Danish. Now practically everything is bought by the "Home team". And no thanks to me, I might add.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Even here, Norwegian coins are the scarcest of any Nordics, and this impacts price.
By contrast, 19 C. Swedish and Russo-Finnish coins are relatively cheap, hence my current emphasis.
Someday, when I can focus on coins from Norway, they will be older than my 1/2 Skilling.
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Valued Member
United States
426 Posts |
Beautiful coin.
Was the weight, size and silver purity the same as the Spanish 8R?
Edited by RealPeso
08/31/2011 11:30 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Coin facts lists the weight as 26.92 grams. I could not find a diameter, but I assume it's similar to an 8R.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,957 |
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Posted 08/31/2011 01:08 am
