Norway’s krone joined the Scandinavian Monetary Union in 1875 under the currency law of 17 April 1875, converting the old speciedaler at 4 kroner = 1 speciedaler; the 1874–1875 first union coinage carried dual denominations (e.g., “20 KRONER 5 Sp”). Norwegian gold and silver union coinage is scarcer than Sweden’s or Denmark’s — the Kongsberg mint’s output was small — and the 1910 Haakon VII 20 kroner is the famous finale of the series.
Denominations
1 Krone Silver, Oscar II (1877–1904)
- Issued: 1877–1904 (Oscar II; KM357)
- Composition: .800 fine silver, 7.5 g (0.1929 oz ASW) — the same .800 standard as its Swedish and Danish cousins
- Key dates: the workhorse denomination ordinary Norwegians handled; modest silver content makes it an affordable type coin
- Notable varieties: the “Without 30 SK” variety — early transitional pieces referenced the old skilling system (1 krone = 30 skilling during the 1874–1875 changeover)
In this wiki:
Value: Check live sold listings on the linked guide before buying or pricing. For metal value, use the melt calculator.
2 Kroner Silver, Oscar II (1878–1904)
- Issued: 1878–1904 (Kongsberg mint; KM359)
- Composition: .800 fine silver, 15 g, 31 mm (0.3858 oz ASW)
- Key dates: low mintages make this one of the toughest Scandinavian silver crowns by date — 300,000 for the 1878 first year, but only 25,000 each for 1885, 1887, and 1888 (NGC/NumisMaster)
- Notable varieties: obverse legend “OSCAR II NORGES o. SVER. KONGE” with the motto “BRODERFOLKENES VEL” — the Norwegian spelling of the same brother-peoples motto on Swedish coinage; crossed hammers divide the date on the reverse. NGC notes official restrikes exist in gold, silver, and bronze — buy the business strikes, not the restrikes
- Mintage highlights: 25,000 each (1885, 1887, 1888) — the series keys
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, Oscar II (1874–1902)
- Issued: 1874–1910 as a series; Oscar II issues ran through 1902
- Composition: .900 fine gold, 8.96 g total (8.0645 g fine), 23 mm, 0.2593 oz actual gold weight — identical spec to Swedish and Danish union gold
- Key dates: the earliest issues (1874–1875) carry both the new kroner and old speciedaler denominations, making them artifacts of the currency changeover itself
- Notable varieties: the 1874–1875 reverse reads “20 KRONER 5 Sp 124 Stk 1 Kil. f. G.” — the 5-speciedaler equivalence and the gold-standard statement (124 coins to the kilogram of fine gold); from 1876 the arms appear within an oak wreath
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, Haakon VII (1910)
- Issued: 1910 only — the final Norwegian gold coin of the union era
- Composition: .900 fine gold, 8.96 g, 23 mm (KM376)
- Key dates: the sole 20-kroner issue of Haakon VII, Norway’s first king after the 1905 dissolution of the union with Sweden
- Notable varieties: the reverse shows St. Olav rather than the royal arms — a deliberate national symbol for an independent Norway; reeded edge
- Mintage highlights: 250,000 (recorded; CoinsBook)
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
Norway issues no modern bullion coin. The union-standard 20 Kroner gold pieces above — Oscar II’s and the 1910 Haakon VII finale — are Norway’s classic gold coins, traded near melt when worn and scarce in high grade thanks to the Kongsberg mint’s small output.
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. Two authentication flags: official Norwegian Mint restrikes of the 2 kroner exist in gold, silver, and bronze, and Norwegian union gold carries strong premiums over its Scandinavian counterparts — key dates warrant certified examples.
Europe Red Book v2 research chapter, published September 15, 2026. Values are intentionally excluded; use authenticated sold-market evidence.