Sweden (15)34 ortug
This specimen was lot 11225 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2025), where it sold for €192 (about US$200). The catalog description[1] noted, "SWEDEN. Örtug, 1534. Stockholm Mint. Gustav Vasa. NGC EF-40. From the L. E. Bruun Collection. Ex. Johan Scharp Collection (Stockholm-1851/1853) Lot # 164." Wikipedia comments,
"Örtug or ortig was a medieval currency unit in Sweden. It was originally minted as a silver coin in 1370 during the reign of king Albert of Sweden. The coin weighed about 1.3 grams and consisted of 81% silver. As time passed, the örtug was debased: during the reign of Eric of Pomerania, the örtug contained 0.88 grams of silver; under Christian I, 0.7 grams; and in 1534 only 0.54 grams of silver. During the reign of Gustav Vasa (1523–1560), the monetary system of Sweden was reformed: an örtug was now subdivided into 12 pennings, not 8 as before, while still valued as one third of an öre."
Gustav Vasa permanently separated Sweden from Denmark-Norway and ended the Kalmar Union. His reign is considered the beginning of modern Swedish history. Among other reforms, he made one gyllen = 48 örtug. This type is listed for 1530-34 and undated.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.73 g, 0.313 fine silver, 21.2 mm diameter, this specimen 1.76 g.
Catalog reference: KM MB40, Delzanno-218; SM-77; Bruun-11434.
- Bjorne Ahlström, Yngve Almer and Bengt Hemmingson, Sveriges Mynt, 1521-1977, the Coinage of Sweden. Stockholm: Numismatika Bokforlaget AB, 1976.
- Delzanno, Roberto, Myntårsboken 2022, Sveriges Mynt 995-2021, 1:a upplagen, Stockholm, 2021.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, February 2025 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients, World Coins & World Paper Money, David B. Simpson Medals & World Coins Part 1, Selections from the Richard Margolis Collection, and Selections from the L. E. Bruun Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
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