Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 Kroner 1903, KM# 802, Denmark, Christian IX, 40th Anniversary of the Reign of King Christian IX
  • 2 Kroner 1903, KM# 802, Denmark, Christian IX, 40th Anniversary of the Reign of King Christian IX
Description

This limited mintage Silver coin was issued by Denmark to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Christian IX’s reign.

Christian IX (1818–1906) was King of Denmark from 1863 to 1906. The beginning of his reign was marked by the Danish defeat in the Second Schleswig War and the subsequent loss of the duchies of Schleswig, Holstein and Lauenburg which made the king immensely unpopular. The following years of his reign were dominated by political disputes as Denmark had only become a constitutional monarchy in 1849 and the balance of power between the sovereign and parliament was still in dispute. In spite of his initial unpopularity and the many years of political strife, where the king was in conflict with large parts of the population, his popularity recovered towards the end of his reign, and he became a national icon due to the length of his reign and the high standards of personal morality with which he was identified. Christian married his second cousin, Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel, in 1842. Their six children married into other royal families across Europe, earning him the sobriquet "the father-in-law of Europe".

Obverse

Armored bust right, with titles and anniversary dates.

The issue year 1903 between mint mark (♥ – Royal Danish Mint, Copenhagen) and mintmaster initial (P – Vilhelm Buchard Poulsen, 1893-1918).

Engraver: Knud Gunnar Jensen (GI, 1901-1933)

CHRISTIAN•IX•KONGE•AF•DANMARK•
15NOVBR• 1863•1903
♥ 1903 P GI

Reverse

Sitting Liberty (left) holding an oval royal shield (coat of arms), right of sheaves of grains and a flying dove (right) in front of a circle. The King’s motto 'With God for honour and justice' around and value in exergue.

The national coat of arms of Denmark consists of three pale blue lions passant wearing crowns, accompanied by nine red lilypads (normally represented as hearts), all in a golden shield. It is historically the coat of arms of the House of Estridsen, the dynasty which provided the Kings of Denmark between 1047 and 1412. The current design was introduced in 1819, under Frederick VI. Previously, there had been no distinction between the "national" and the "royal" coat of arms. Since 1819, there has been a more complex royal coat of arms of Denmark (kongevåben) separate from the national coat of arms (rigsvåben).

MED✤GVD✤FOR✤ÆRE✤OG✤RET
2 KR

Edge

2 Kroner

40th Anniversary of the Reign of King Christian IX

KM# 802
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.800
Weight 15 g
Diameter 31 mm
Thickness 2.4 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Danish Mint

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