25 Öre 1917 Sweden

This 25 öre coin from 1917 was struck in .800 fine silver, drawn from Sweden's wartime reserves to keep the economy afloat during World War I.

That silver content wasn't just for show. It reflected Sweden's neutral stance, allowing them to maintain currency production while neighbors scrambled. The obverse shows King Gustaf V's portrait, designed by Erik Lindberg, with the reverse featuring the three crowns—a symbol as old as the realm itself.

Mintage figures for this year are murky; records from the Stockholm mint burned in a fire decades later. Still, examples turn up in decent condition, often with a subtle patina from years in circulation.

If you're handling one, note the edge is reeded to deter clipping, a common fraud back then.