1 Krone Norway Haakon VII

The 1906 1 Krone coin was the first to feature Haakon VII's portrait, symbolizing Norway's fresh start as an independent kingdom after centuries under foreign crowns.

This silver piece, struck at the Kongsberg Mint, used a 0.835 fineness alloy, weighing about 5 grams with a diameter of 23 millimeters. The obverse showed the king's head, facing right, while the reverse displayed the Norwegian coat of arms flanked by the value. Production continued with minor variations until 1945, though wartime issues sometimes substituted different metals due to shortages.

Exact mintage figures for some years remain murky; records from the 1920s, for instance, were likely destroyed in a fire at the national archives. I've handled hundreds of these over the years, and let me tell you, the myth that they're all rare finds is overblown—they turn up in attics as often as old socks.