2021-04-12 Mon

Christian IV was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Holstein and Schleswig from 1588 to 1648. His 59-year reign is the longest of Danish monarchs, and of all Scandinavian monarchies.

He led two unsuccessful wars against Sweden and brought disaster upon his country by leading it into the Thirty Years’ War. He energetically promoted trade and shipping, left a national heritage of fine buildings, and won repute as a plucky, hard-drinking man of grim wit and a great resource.

He is remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious, and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects. Christian IV obtained for his kingdom a level of stability and wealth that was virtually unmatched elsewhere in Europe.

He rebuilt and renamed the Norwegian capital Oslo as Christiania after himself, a name used until 1925. Depicted here is a 1 Ducat issued under his reign. The obverse of a coin depicts crowned king standing right, holding a sceptre with a right hand and a royal orb with left. Below king's feet are a rhomboidal checkered pattern frame similar to a roof.

The reverse of a coin has Hebrew letters for "Jehovah" between IUSTUS above and IUDEX below. The date at the bottom (or above) with numbers divided by halberd mintmark.

Image Source: https://www.coinshome.net