10 Kronor 1988

The 1988 Swedish 10 Kronor coin features Alfred Nobel's portrait, a first for depicting a non-royal on a Swedish coin.

That design choice broke from centuries of tradition, placing the inventor of dynamite alongside kings and queens. Struck in cupro-nickel at the Royal Swedish Mint, the obverse shows Nobel in profile, while the reverse includes the Swedish coat of arms and the denomination. It's a modest piece, weighing about 20 grams and measuring 31 millimeters across.

We don't know the exact mintage; records from that era can be spotty. What I can say is that these coins circulated briefly before becoming keepsakes for those interested in Nobel's legacy.

Plenty of folks think every commemorative is rare, but this one isn't.