Frederick VII 2 Rigsbankdaler

One of the more peculiar aspects of the Frederick VII 2 Rigsbankdaler is that it was struck in Copenhagen using gold planchets likely sourced from recycled foreign coins, a common but thrifty practice in mid-19th century minting.

Weighing in at about 11.11 grams of .900 fine gold, this coin depicted the king in a realistic profile, complete with his prominent sideburns, on the obverse, while the reverse showed the Danish coat of arms encircled by the value and date. Mintage figures are hazy; records from that era were spotty, with some lost in bureaucratic reshuffles. These pieces circulated briefly during Denmark's economic reforms, a period when the rigsdaler system was creaking under modern pressures.

Not every royal coin needs to be a masterpiece, and this one was functional more than flamboyant. The design's simplicity might have been intentional, given the king's own straightforward rule.