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The Norwegian Lion on a Coin from Rethwisch

In 1761 the small estate of Rethwisch in Schleswig-Holstein fell into the hands of the Danish king by hereditary rights on the death of Duke Friedrich Carl von Plön. The Royal Danish Rethwisch Mint was in operation from 1769 to 1770 as a subsidiary under the Copenhagen Mint. Rethwisch Mint produced only a few types in its two years of operation. Although dated 1768, the Speciedaler featured in lot 11162 of our February L. E. Bruun Collectors Choice Online Auction wasn’t minted until 1769.

There are a number of possible reasons for the inclusion of the Norwegian arms on the reverse: The coins were minted from Norwegian silver, the dukes of Schleswig-Holstein historically held the title as heirs to Norway, and the last and most down-to-earth explanation is that Norwegian silver coins were considered more reliable than the Danish.

The enchanting Speciedaler is being offered in the February 2025 World Collectors Choice Online Auction: Selections from the L. E. Bruun Collection: Session 2 – Coins of Norway, Sweden and Germany, which takes place on February 20. Because of the Norwegian arms the coin was previously thought to be Norwegian, and it was cataloged as such in the 1928 Bruun catalog. Since the original Bruun order is being maintained in the sales, this coin, although Danish (and partly German) is placed within the Norwegian section.

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