Denmark 1845-VS speciedaler Dav-74
The first specimen was lot 4031 in Goldberg sale 67 (Los Angeles, January 2012), where it sold for $230. The catalog description[1] noted, "Denmark. Speciedaler, 1845-VS. Christian VIII. Head right. Reverse: Crowned arms supported by wild men. Toned. Very Fine." The second specimen was lot 2437 in Steve Album Auction 54 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2026), where it sold for $570. The catalog description[2] noted, "DENMARK: Christian VIII, 1839-1848, AR speciedaler, Copenhagen, 1845(c), initials VS, lightly cleaned, starting to retone, XF." Danish currency endured several "reforms" in the nineteenth century. Until 1813, 1 ducat = 2 speciedaler = 12 mark = 192 skilling Danske. After the reform of 1813, 1 frederiks d'or = 5 speciedaler = 10 rigsbankdaler = 960 rigsbankskilling. In 1854, the speciedaler was dropped but the remaining denominations were unchanged. In 1874, all the old denominations were terminated in favor of one krone = 100 øre, which system is still in use, tho the krone is no longer silver. King Christian VIII ruled 1839-48. For 1845, this type was struck at Altona and Copenhagen, with Copenhagen using two mintmarks, a crown (first specimen) and a heart (second specimen, very rare).
Recorded mintage: unknown but scarce.
Specification: 28.89 g, 0.875 fine silver, .812 troy oz ASW. The second specimen is 28.94 g.
Catalog reference: Dav-74; KM-720.3. The second specimen is KM-720.1, Hede-3E.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Siegs Møntcatalog 2016: Danmark med Omrader, 48 ed., Frederikssund, Siegs Forlag ApS, 2015.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, Stephen Harvey, Paul Rynearson and Jason Bradford, Pre-Long Beach Auction, Ancient & World Coins, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, 2011.
- [2]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 54, featuring selections from the Kenneth A. Bovenkamp Collection of Ottoman Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2025.
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