Gustav II Adolf was crowned in October 1617, and this commemorative half riksdaler was struck to mark that occasion — notably early in a reign that would transform Sweden into the dominant military power in northern Europe before his death at Lützen in 1632. Coronation issues of this type were distributed as gifts among nobility and court attendants rather than circulated commercially, which explains why survivors tend to show less wear than their age would suggest.
SM#83 is among the scarcer Swedish commemoratives of the early Vasa period.
Gustav II Adolf was crowned in October 1617, and this commemorative half riksdaler was struck to mark that occasion — notably early in a reign that would transform Sweden into the dominant military power in northern Europe before his death at Lützen in 1632. Coronation issues of this type were distributed as gifts among nobility and court attendants rather than circulated commercially, which explains why survivors tend to show less wear than their age would suggest.
SM#83 is among the scarcer Swedish commemoratives of the early Vasa period.