2 Ducats - Christian V

Christian V inherited a Norway still absorbing the consequences of the 1660 constitutional revolution that had abolished the Danish nobility's tax privileges and entrenched absolute monarchy. These gold ducats were struck at the Kongsberg mint, which had been established in 1686 to exploit the rich silver veins discovered there in 1623 — though gold for ducat coinage was imported rather than locally mined. The denomination itself was a trade coin format, intended as much for merchant exchange across the Baltic and North Sea as for domestic use.

Brekke 154A distinguishes a specific die pairing within the type; collectors should verify the reverse die carefully against plated examples.