Sweden (1512-20) 1/2 ortug
This specimen was lot 11221 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, February 2025), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "SWEDEN. 1/2 Örtug, ND (1512-20). Västerås Mint. Sten Sture den Yngre. NGC MS-60. Rare and attractive specimen, variation with 6 pointed star on both sides. From the L. E. Bruun Collection. Ex: Countship of Brahesminde Collection (Private Sale-1922). Ex:Johan Scharp Collection (Stockholm-1851/1853) Lot # 172." Sten Sture the Younger (Swedish: Sten Sture den yngre) (1493-1520), was a Swedish nobleman who served as the regent of Sweden, during the era of the Kalmar Union. 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."
One mark = 24 örtug.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1 g, billon, 17 mm diameter, this specimen 0.81 g.
Catalog reference: Delzanno-500 cf.; Lagerqvist-12a; Bruun-11390.
- 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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