4 Skilling Dansk - Christian IV Oval shield

Christian IV's monetary reforms of the early seventeenth century created a chaotic transitional period in Danish coinage, during which billon issues of inconsistent fineness circulated alongside older, heavier silver. The 4 Skilling denomination sat in an awkward middle tier — too valuable for everyday small transactions, not substantial enough for merchant accounting — and saw heavy use in wage payments to crown laborers and garrison troops.

KM#55.1 distinguishes this variety by the oval shield form, set apart from the later round-shield type struck concurrently at multiple mints during the same window.