In 1807 the Kingdom of Denmark/Norway was forced to join the Napoleonic War on the side of the French. England, fearing the Danish fleet would fall into the hands of Napoleon and shift the balance of power on the seas, launched the second Battle of Copenhagen (the capital of the then neutral monarchy). After five days of intense bombardment of mainly civilian buildings, the country surrendered, and the victors took off with the Danish fleet.
This ended a long period of peace and prosperity, with no major conflicts since 1720. The Kingdom of Denmark/Norway was thrown into turmoil at the loss of both the bulwark and the glue that held the countries together. With supply and communication lines severed, it was of utmost importance to rebuild the fleet. The state finances, however, were in shambles with the bankruptcy of the country drawing near.
A voluntary collection of silver was instigated. From all over the country, gentry, nobility, peasants and priests donated their silverware to the cause and an impressive sum of 700,000 Rigsdalers worth was collected.
Some of the silver was used to mint a silver coin with the value of 1/6 Rigsdaler or 1 Mark at the weight of 5 grams. The obverse shows King Frederik VI’s monogram, a crowned, intertwined FR with his numeral below set within the value. The reverse bears the striking text ‘Voluntary sacrifice for the Father Land’ (Transl.) within a wreath – hence the nickname ‘Offermark’ or ‘Sacrificial Mark.’
A very popular type, struck in the first year of the king’s ascension to the throne, the coin embraces both national pride and resilience in the face of insurmountable odds, the humiliation of losing Norway to the Swedes only six years later. Both stylistically and in terms of production method it bridges the gap from the Florissant period in the 18th century to the modernity of the 19th. Many ‘Offermarks’ were kept as mementos but were often repurposed into jewelry or watch keys. That, and the fact that modern nickel counterfeits (c. 1900) exist with reeded edges instead of the original incuse circles, makes it extra important to examine the edge before acquiring one for your collection.
The L. E. Bruun Collection features both an original and a counterfeit example, and both versions are, despite their historic significance, quite affordable. As we continue our offerings of this record-breaking collection, keep your eyes peeled for these and many, many other numismatic treasures that will sell for prices in all ranges.
