25 øre (Denmark)
Encyclopedia
The twenty-five øre coin was a coin of the Danish krone
. It was the lowest-denomination coin in the country when it was demonetised on 1 October 2008.
and the script KONGE AF DANMARK (King of Denmark). The reverse featured the denomination and two dolphins. The last minting of this coin was 1905.
The second silver twenty-five øre coin had its first issue in 1907, to the same specifications of the previous version. It featured the portrait of King Frederick VIII of Denmark
as well as thicker writing on his script, which now read DANMARKS KONGE (Denmark's king). The reverse featured a fleur-de-lis
pattern circling the outside . Its only other strike was in 1911.
The next twenty-five øre coin, first issued in 1913, was the first not to feature the portrait of the monarch. Its obverse contained the monogram of King Christian X of Denmark
, with his crown atop. The reverse was now plainer, without the fleur-de-lis pattern . From 1920 to its last issue in 1922, the coin was made from cupro-nickel and not silver , which decreased its mass to 2.4g . The dimensions remained the same as since 1874 .
for King) was placed on the obverse to the other side of the hole from the monogram . This coin was struck until 1947, although issues from 1941 to 1945 were made from zinc
due to a shortage of valuable materials during the Second World War , and thus weighed less, at 3.6g.
In 1948, the obverse was changed to the monogram of King Frederick IX of Denmark
. The hole was removed and the reverse denomination written in plainer type , yet the dimensions remained the same . In 1960, the wreath around the monogram was transferred to the reverse . The hole returned in 1966, bringing the weight down to 4.23g. Half of a beech
wreath was placed on the right side of the hole on the obverse with the monogram on the left. Barley
featured on the reverse .
In 1973, the monogram of the current Queen, Margrethe II of Denmark
, first appeared on the coin. The half wreath became an oak sprig and the reverse became stylised.
, zinc
and tin
. No portrait or monogram featured, only the crown of Christian V of Denmark
on the obverse . Due to the decreasing value of the coin, it was abolished as a legal tender as of 1 October, 2008. Its exchange for circulating coins was removed on 1 October 2011 . Despite the changes in alloy and design of 25-øre coins from 1874 to 2009, all were full legal tender until the demonetisation of the currency, although the bullion value of the silver coins would far exceed their face value .
was placed in the centre of the obverse of the coin. The sovereign's
crown is the most important Royal and State symbol and represented national sovereignty. Since 1671 the crown of Christian V, which is kept at Rosenborg Castle
, has been the Royal Danish crown. The year of minting is seen at the top of the coin. On the reverse of the coin the figure "25" is placed in the centre. Above, the heart
of the Royal Mint
is embossed. The use of the heart is a century-old tradition, originally indicating the mint master, later the place of minting. Today the mint mark serves no practical purpose since Danish coins are minted at only one place.
Danish krone
The krone is the official currency of the Kingdom of Denmark consisting of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. It is subdivided into 100 øre...
. It was the lowest-denomination coin in the country when it was demonetised on 1 October 2008.
Silver coin
The denomination was first introduced on the decimalisation of the currency in 1874 as a 0.600 silver coin. It measured 17mm in diameter and 1.3mm in thickness, weighing 2.42g. Its obverse featured the portrait of King Christian IX of DenmarkChristian IX of Denmark
Christian IX was King of Denmark from 16 November 1863 to 29 January 1906.Growing up as a prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, a junior branch of the House of Oldenburg which had ruled Denmark since 1448, Christian was originally not in the immediate line of succession to the Danish...
and the script KONGE AF DANMARK (King of Denmark). The reverse featured the denomination and two dolphins. The last minting of this coin was 1905.
The second silver twenty-five øre coin had its first issue in 1907, to the same specifications of the previous version. It featured the portrait of King Frederick VIII of Denmark
Frederick VIII of Denmark
Frederick VIII was King of Denmark from 1906 to 1912.-Early life:Frederick was born on 3 June 1843 in the Yellow Palace in Copenhagen as Prince Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, a junior male line of the House of Oldenburg descended from Christian III of Denmark and who had...
as well as thicker writing on his script, which now read DANMARKS KONGE (Denmark's king). The reverse featured a fleur-de-lis
Fleur-de-lis
The fleur-de-lis or fleur-de-lys is a stylized lily or iris that is used as a decorative design or symbol. It may be "at one and the same time, political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic, and symbolic", especially in heraldry...
pattern circling the outside . Its only other strike was in 1911.
The next twenty-five øre coin, first issued in 1913, was the first not to feature the portrait of the monarch. Its obverse contained the monogram of King Christian X of Denmark
Christian X of Denmark
Christian X was King of Denmark from 1912 to 1947 and the only King of Iceland between 1918 and 1944....
, with his crown atop. The reverse was now plainer, without the fleur-de-lis pattern . From 1920 to its last issue in 1922, the coin was made from cupro-nickel and not silver , which decreased its mass to 2.4g . The dimensions remained the same as since 1874 .
Cupro-nickel coin
In 1924, the coin's diameter increased to 23mm, its weight to 4.5g and its thickness to 1.5mm. A hole was introduced through the centre. An R (for rex, LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for King) was placed on the obverse to the other side of the hole from the monogram . This coin was struck until 1947, although issues from 1941 to 1945 were made from zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
due to a shortage of valuable materials during the Second World War , and thus weighed less, at 3.6g.
In 1948, the obverse was changed to the monogram of King Frederick IX of Denmark
Frederick IX of Denmark
Frederick IX was King of Denmark from 20 April 1947 until his death on 14 January 1972....
. The hole was removed and the reverse denomination written in plainer type , yet the dimensions remained the same . In 1960, the wreath around the monogram was transferred to the reverse . The hole returned in 1966, bringing the weight down to 4.23g. Half of a beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
wreath was placed on the right side of the hole on the obverse with the monogram on the left. Barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
featured on the reverse .
In 1973, the monogram of the current Queen, Margrethe II of Denmark
Margrethe II of Denmark
Margrethe II is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1972 she became the first female monarch of Denmark since Margaret I, ruler of the Scandinavian countries in 1375-1412 during the Kalmar Union.-Early life:...
, first appeared on the coin. The half wreath became an oak sprig and the reverse became stylised.
Bronze coin
The last twenty-five øre coin was first struck in 1990. Its composition changed from cupro-nickel to an alloy of copperCopper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
and tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
. No portrait or monogram featured, only the crown of Christian V of Denmark
Christian V of Denmark
Christian V , was king of Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699, the son of Frederick III of Denmark and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
on the obverse . Due to the decreasing value of the coin, it was abolished as a legal tender as of 1 October, 2008. Its exchange for circulating coins was removed on 1 October 2011 . Despite the changes in alloy and design of 25-øre coins from 1874 to 2009, all were full legal tender until the demonetisation of the currency, although the bullion value of the silver coins would far exceed their face value .
Design
The crownCrown (headgear)
A crown is the traditional symbolic form of headgear worn by a monarch or by a deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power, legitimacy, immortality, righteousness, victory, triumph, resurrection, honour and glory of life after death. In art, the crown may be shown being offered to...
was placed in the centre of the obverse of the coin. The sovereign's
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
crown is the most important Royal and State symbol and represented national sovereignty. Since 1671 the crown of Christian V, which is kept at Rosenborg Castle
Rosenborg Castle
Rosenborg Castle is a renaissance castle located in the centre of Copenhagen, Denmark. The castle was originally built as a country summerhouse in 1606 and is an example of Christian IV's many architectural projects...
, has been the Royal Danish crown. The year of minting is seen at the top of the coin. On the reverse of the coin the figure "25" is placed in the centre. Above, the heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
of the Royal Mint
Mint (coin)
A mint is an industrial facility which manufactures coins for currency.The history of mints correlates closely with the history of coins. One difference is that the history of the mint is usually closely tied to the political situation of an era...
is embossed. The use of the heart is a century-old tradition, originally indicating the mint master, later the place of minting. Today the mint mark serves no practical purpose since Danish coins are minted at only one place.