Sweden 1544 1/2 mark

Heritage sale 3029, lot 30959

This specimen was lot 30959 in Heritage sale 3029 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $1,762.50. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Gustaf Vasa 1/2 Mark 1544, Svartsjo mint, MS62 NGC. Nicely toned with flashes of original mint brilliance, a sharply struck example of this very scarce type. The obverse features a classic half bust of the King with sword and royal orb. A most appealing coin and certainly rare in Mint State. Variety with stars in the reverse legends." 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 daler = four mark = 32 öre.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 5.25 g, 0.500 fine silver, 26-30 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: SM-191 (Rare).

Source:

• 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]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Stuart Levine and Bruce Lorich, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3029, featuring Selections from the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part III, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.

Link to:

• 1541 mark, Svartsjo mint
• (15)43 2 öre
• 1543 2 mark = 16 öre
• 1543 daler
• 1544 daler
• (15)46 2 öre, Svartsjo mint
• 1549 half mark, Svartsjo mint
• Coins and currency dated 1544
• return to coins of Sweden