Sweden 1670 8 mark Dav-4535
This specimen was lot 52619 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Pittsburgh, PA, August 2023), where it sold for $2,280. The catalog description[1] noted, "SWEDEN. 8 Mark, 1670. Stockholm Mint. Karl XI. NGC VF-35. A fairly RARE and seldom encountered crown, this charmingly toned example provides great overall detail remaining and surfaces that exhibit only mild wear and some scattered subtle marks." The catalogs note that the minting of riksdalers dwindled in the 1650's and ceased in the 1670's in favor of the eight mark but does not note why. The striking of riksdalers resumed in the eighteenth century after the Great Northern War (1700-21). The eight mark had about 14% more silver than the riksdaler of 28.77 g. We don't know why the king had two different reverses struck, considering the paltry mintage could have been made with one set of dies.
Recorded mintage: 4,223 including Dav-4536.
Specification: 31.35 g, 0.922 fine silver, lettered and plain edge.
Catalog reference: Dav-4535; KM-275.
- 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.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2023 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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