Denmark co-founded the Scandinavian Monetary Union with Sweden on 5 May 1873, replacing the rigsdaler with the krone in January 1875; the union broke down in 1914. Danish union coinage is the collector favorite of the three: the Christian IX “Mermaid” 20 kroner is one of the most admired gold designs in world numismatics, and Denmark’s long tradition of silver 2-kroner commemoratives gives collectors a deep, affordable series.
Denominations
2 Kroner Silver — 1903, 40th Anniversary of Christian IX’s Reign (1903)
- Issued: 1903 only (Copenhagen mint; KM802)
- Composition: .800 fine silver, 15 g, 31 mm (0.3858 oz ASW)
- Key dates: a single-date commemorative with a mintage of 103,392 — the flagship of Denmark’s 2-kroner commemorative tradition
- Notable varieties: obverse bust of Christian IX with reign dates “15 November 1863 to 1903”; the heart below the date is the Copenhagen mint mark. Engraved by Knud Gunnar Jensen; mintmaster initials VBP (Vilhelm Buchard Poulsen)
- Mintage highlights: 103,392 (NGC/NumisMaster)
In this wiki:
Value: Check live sold listings on the linked guide before buying or pricing.
2 Kroner Silver — 1912, Death of Frederik VIII / Accession of Christian X (1912)
- Issued: 1912 only (Copenhagen mint; KM811)
- Composition: .800 fine silver, 15 g, 31 mm (0.3858 oz ASW)
- Key dates: a royal-mourning commemorative struck in the accession year of Christian X — Frederik VIII reigned only six years (1906–1912)
- Notable varieties: mintmaster initials VBP-AH below the date (Stephen Album Rare Coins auction data, PCGS-graded example)
- Mintage highlights: 101,917 (Heritage Auctions lot records)
In this wiki:
Value: Check live sold listings on the linked guide before buying or pricing.
20 Kroner Gold “Mermaid,” Christian IX (1873–1900)
- Issued: 1873–1900 (Copenhagen/Royal Danish Mint)
- Composition: .900 fine gold, 8.9606 g (8.06454 g fine), 23 mm — the union standard, identical spec to Swedish and Norwegian gold
- Key dates: about 1.7 million pieces of the Christian IX portrait type were produced; the Mermaid reverse is unique to the Christian IX issues (his successors used crowned arms)
- Notable varieties: obverse bearded portrait of Christian IX; reverse seated Dania — Denmark personified — holding her shield of three lions, with a sheaf of grain at her side and a dolphin at her feet (Danish Mint data)
- Mintage highlights: ~1.7 million total for the Christian IX portrait type
In this wiki:
Value: Check live sold listings on the linked guide before buying or pricing. For metal value, use the melt calculator.
20 Kroner Gold, Christian X (1913–1931)
- Issued: 1913–1931 (Copenhagen Mint; KM817.1)
- Composition: .900 fine gold, 8.9606 g, 23 mm, 0.25928 oz actual gold weight
- Key dates: struck as WWI was suspending gold coinage across Europe; 1.93 million of the 1915–1916 strikings were never released after Denmark suspended gold convertibility in 1914 and sat in Nationalbank vaults — which is why so many surviving examples are in brilliant uncirculated condition
- Notable varieties: obverse portrait of Christian X (“CHRISTIAN X KONGE AF DANMARK”); reverse the crowned great arms of Denmark, reused from the Frederik VIII type (1908–1912, ~1.17 million struck); the heart below the portrait is the Royal Danish Mint mark
- Mintage highlights: 3.7 million pieces produced 1913–1917 (of which 1.93 million unreleased)
In this wiki:
Value: Check live sold listings on the linked guide before buying or pricing. For metal value, use the melt calculator.
Bullion & modern issues
Denmark issues no modern bullion coin. The 20 Kroner gold series above is Denmark’s classic gold — the Christian X issues in particular trade near melt in the brilliant-uncirculated vault hoard state. Modern Danish commemorative 20-kroner pieces circulate as legal tender, and gold/silver commemoratives remain a living Danish series.
In this wiki:
Value: Check live sold listings on the linked guides before buying or pricing. For metal value, use the melt calculator.
Values move; always check live sold listings on the linked guides. Key dates and high-value pieces require authentication.
Values move — always check sold listings on the linked entries before buying or pricing. The “vault gold” story cuts both ways: uncirculated Christian X 20-kroner pieces are common, but genuinely worn or proof examples are not — and commemorative 2-kroner pieces trade at very different levels by grade, so key dates warrant certified examples.
Europe Red Book v2 research chapter, published September 15, 2026. Values are intentionally excluded; use authenticated sold-market evidence.