2 Daler - Erik XIV

Erik XIV came to the Swedish throne in 1560 and almost immediately sought to project royal authority through coinage of unusual ambition. The 2 Daler was part of a deliberate policy to produce large silver multiples capable of competing with the German Reichstaler on international markets — Erik was acutely conscious of Sweden's standing among European powers and used the mint as a tool of diplomatic signaling as much as monetary policy.

His reign ended in deposition and imprisonment by his brother Johan in 1568, making the entire run of Erik XIV coinage relatively short-lived.