Frederick VI Rigsdaler

This Danish Rigsdaler, issued under Frederick VI, was struck on planchets recycled from melted Spanish reales, a practical move amid the silver shortages of the Napoleonic Wars.

That recycling wasn't just thrift; it reflected Europe's chaotic currency flows, with Denmark grabbing whatever silver it could to keep commerce afloat. The coin, denominated at 96 skilling, featured a portrait of the king on one side and the Danish arms on the other, all while the country navigated blockades and alliances. Mintage figures vary by year, but records from the 1810s are spotty, likely lost in bureaucratic muddles.

As for myths, I've heard tales of these coins funding secret operations—nonsense, really; they were mostly used for trade. If you're collecting, check for wear; those edges saw a lot of pocket time.