Sweden 12 Skilling

The 12 Skilling coin from Sweden features the portrait of Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, a French general who became King Charles XIV John through a twist of European politics.

This silver piece, valued at 12 skillingar, circulated from 1830 to 1855 as part of the Riksdaler system. It was struck at the Swedish mint in pure silver, typically weighing around 3.5 grams, though exact weights varied by year. The obverse showed the king's profile, while the reverse depicted the Swedish coat of arms, a design that reflected the era's royal authority.

Mintage figures are spotty; records for some years burned in the 1838 Stockholm fire. That said, these coins turned up in everyday transactions, from market stalls to tavern tabs.

Collectors sometimes overlook that the 12 Skilling was just one denomination in a clunky currency setup, soon to be swept away by the krona. A minor irony: for all its heft, it rarely bought much more than a loaf of bread.