Sweden 1665 ore KM-250
This specimen was lot 11051 in Stack's Bowers June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction (Copenhagen, June 2026), where it sold for €69 (about US$80). The catalog description[1] noted, "SWEDEN. Öre, 1665. Stockholm Mint. Karl XI. NGC VF Details--Cleaned. Variation with a crowned monogram. From the L.E. Bruun Collection. Ex: Johan Scharp Collection (Stockholm - 1851/1853) Lot #709." The SCWC erred in cataloging this type. They assigned KM 250 to the issues of Karl XI dated 1665-85 and struck in 0.313 fine silver and assigned KM 250a to the öre of 1686-1714 struck in 0.250 fine silver, regardless of whether they were struck for Karl XI (shown here) or Karl XII (monogram "C XII"). We will assign KM 250 to Karl XI and KM 250a to Karl XII. We also note KM 248 struck in 1665 with a large "C.R.S." monogram and KM 249 with interlaced "C's" instead of the "C XII" shown here.
Karl XI succeeded to the throne in 1660 at the age of four. He was not crowned until 1672, being under the regency of his mother and the Estates. In 1675, he found himself embroiled in war with Denmark which, by firm leadership and good luck, he won. The treaty of Fontainebleau of 1679 ended his last foreign war and he spent the rest of his reign reforming the army and restoring the royal finances. He died of cancer in 1697, aged 41 years.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.23, 0.313 fine silver, 18-19 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-250; SM-225; Delzanno-389; Bruun-12188.
- Bjorne Ahlström, Yngve Almer and Bengt Hemmingson, Sveriges Mynt, 1521-1977, the Coinage of Sweden. Stockholm: Numismatika Bokförlaget AB, 1976.
- Delzanno, Roberto, Myntårsboken 2022, Sveriges Mynt 995-2021, 1:a upplagen, Stockholm, 2021.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction - Selections from the L.E. Bruun Collection, the Richard Margolis Collection and the Kirk Menczer Collection of Republican Reales Minors, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2026.
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