1 Skilling Norway

The 1 Skilling was minted on irregular planchets, often cut from sheets of copper that had been hammered out by hand in makeshift workshops.

This made for coins that were as lopsided as a poorly trimmed beard. Production began in 1628 under Christian IV, during the Danish-Norwegian union, and continued sporadically until 1813, reflecting shifts in royal policy and metal availability.

Exact mintage figures are murky; records from the era were spotty, and many were destroyed in later fires. What we do know is that these coins bore simple designs, like the king's monogram or a crown, struck at locations such as Kongsberg after copper mines opened there in 1623.

Variations appeared over time, with some issues showing wear before they even left the mint, thanks to the soft metal. Collectors today might find them unassuming, but they tell a straightforward story of commerce in a union era.