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20 Kronor - Oscar II
| Issuer | Sweden |
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| Year | 1873-1876 |
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| Shape | Round |
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| Obverse description | Right-facing effigy of King Oscar II, rendered in high relief with fine portrait detail. The engraver's initials 'L.A.' (for Lea Ahlborn) appear below the neck truncation. The date is positioned in the lower field, flanked on either side by a five-pointed star. The obverse legend encircles the bust, reading 'OSCAR II SVERIGES O. NORGES KONUNG', identifying the king as ruler of both Sweden and Norway. |
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| Reverse description | The Swedish Royal Coat of Arms, depicted without the central inescutcheon, is displayed within a crowned and draped mantle that fills the central field. Mint marks flank the shield on either side. Above the arms, the royal motto arches along the upper legend, while the denomination '20 KRONOR' and the mintmaster's initials appear in the lower portion of the field. The overall composition is heraldic and symmetrical in character. |
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| Additional information |
Oscar II's 20 Kronor was among the first coins struck under Sweden's adoption of the Scandinavian Monetary Union, the currency agreement finalized between Sweden, Denmark, and Norway in 1873 that pegged all three nations to the gold standard and created mutually exchangeable coinage. Sweden had previously operated on a silver riksdaler system; the shift required entirely new denominations, new dies, and a retooling of the Stockholm mint. The 1873 date on this type is therefore a true first-year issue, not a continuation of anything prior.
The union functioned with remarkable stability until World War I disrupted it beyond repair.