The Brandywine Collection
1635 1/4 Öre with CRS Monogram

Owner Comments:

The CRS monogram on the 100 Kronor commemorative coin refers to Christina, Queen of Sweden, using the initials of her Latinized name (Christina Regina Sueciae). It appeared on Sweden’s coins, like the 1635 1/4 Öre, that circulated during the time of the Kalmar Nyckel’s journey across the Atlantic. The shield-and-arrow mint mark below the bottom crown indicates that the mint master was Markus Kock. According to Roberto Delzanno’s detailed book on Swedish coins, my example is the “Fine Style” from the Säter mint. The slightly curved appearance of the coin is a result of the roller mill used to create it. Unlike the milled coins of today, which use a hammer and anvil die, these were struck on a copper band between two die wheels and then cut out. In addition, the dies suffered from corrosion, so even well-struck coins will appear uneven and damaged.

This is the only coin in The Brandywine Collection that doesn’t explicitly celebrate Delaware. I liked the connection to the era of New Sweden and the 1988 100 Kronor coin. It’s fun to imagine that one of these could have been aboard the Kalmar Nyckel during her journey in 1638. This coin also allowed me to branch out and learn something new. Remember, there are no rules for collecting coins. Set your boundaries however you want.