Christian IV 1 Skilling

Christian IV's 1 Skilling was often struck using copper recycled from older coins or scrap metal, a practical necessity in an era of frequent wars and scarce resources.

That approach kept the Danish economy limping along, even as the king's ambitions drained the treasury. The coin itself features a simple design: the monarch's bust on one side and a crowned shield on the other, with dates varying from 1596 to 1648. Mintage figures are murky; records from that period were spotty at best.

Variations exist due to different mints, like Copenhagen or Malmö, but wear makes many specimens hard to attribute. It's a humble piece, not the flashy gold you'd expect from royalty.

Some numismatists quip that these coins have seen more battles than the king himself.