3 Speciedaler `Breddaler` - Christian IV

The "Breddaler" — broad thaler — format was an experimental response to a practical problem: merchants handling large-value silver transactions preferred fewer, heavier coins over stacks of smaller denominations. Christian IV authorized these massive strikes partly as prestige currency, partly to demonstrate that Danish minting could match the quality of competing north German and Dutch issues. The 1611 date places production squarely amid Denmark's aggressive mercantile expansion and the ongoing rivalry with Sweden over Baltic trade dominance.

The II#3538C reference signals a Hede catalog attribution, the standard for Danish coinage, confirming this as a documented variety rather than an unofficial or fantasy piece. At nearly 87 grams of silver, individual dies wore rapidly — expect significant variation between surviving examples.