8 Mark 'Klippingar' - Karl as Duke of Södermanland

Karl, Duke of Södermanland, had already seized the Swedish throne from his nephew Sigismund in 1599 — technically still a duke when this piece was struck, though regent in all but name. He wouldn't formally take the title Karl IX until 1604. Klippar of this type were produced in angular, hand-cut form from hammered blanks, a method that invited clipping and forgery complaints even at the time of issue. Gold klippingar from 1603 bearing his ducal title occupy an awkward constitutional moment: the issuing authority named on the coin ceased to legally exist within a year.