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64 Mark - Karl IX Type II
| Issuer | Sweden |
|---|---|
| Year | 1609 |
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| Shape | Round |
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| Obverse description | Crowned and armored half-length effigy of King Karl IX facing right, his right hand raised and brandishing a sword, his left hand presenting a shield bearing the Greater Arms of Sweden — three crowns in the first and fourth quarters, the Folkung lion in the second and third quarters, and a small central escutcheon with the Vasa Arms. The royal effigy is enclosed within a beaded inner circle, upon which the king's motto is inscribed, with the outer legend recording his full royal titles and the date 1609. Above the king's head, the divine name Jehovah is rendered in Hebrew characters (יהוה) within a radiant glory, a characteristic feature of Karl IX's coinage reflecting his devout Calvinist-influenced piety. |
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| Reverse description | A heraldic composition featuring the three crowns of the Swedish realm — emblematic of the former Kalmar Union — arranged above and flanking a central shield charged with the Folkung lion passant. The entire device is contained within a beaded inner circle, surrounded by two concentric lines of Latin legend separated by a beaded border. The outer legend references the historical reign of Magnus Ladulås, King of Sweden and the Goths, dating his rule to the year of Christ 1277, linking Karl IX's claim to ancient Swedish royal tradition. |
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| Additional information |
Karl IX's multiple-mark gold pieces were emergency prestige coinage, struck not for circulation but for diplomatic gifts and court largesse — a practice Sweden borrowed heavily from continental models as it maneuvered for recognition among European powers. The 64 Mark denomination placed this piece at the very top of the Swedish gold hierarchy, making it functionally a presentation medal with legal tender status.
The Type II designation reflects a die modification made during production, though the short reign window of 1609 keeps total surviving examples extremely few. Karl IX died in October 1611, leaving his sixteen-year-old son Gustavus Adolphus to inherit both the throne and an ongoing war with Denmark.