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Sweden also celebrated the 300th anniversary with a commemorative coin. Like the American coin, it bears a depiction of the Kalmar Nyckel. Unlike the American coin, these were meant for circulation.
The decision by Sweden to create a commemorative coin was announced in the March 1937 edition of The Numismatist: “It has been proposed that a 4-kr. riksdaler shall be designed for this purpose.” But that announcement was a bit premature. There was discussion of minting a coin similar to a 17th-century riksdaler, like those available in 1638, but that was determined to be too difficult. The 4 kronor value was considered unsuitable because a coin between 2 and 5 kronor might lead to confusion since this coin was meant for circulation. By August 1937, the committee settled on the 2 kronor coin featuring the Kalmar Nyckel we now know. It fit into the current decimal monetary system and was similar in size and value to the US half dollar. 508,815 coins were minted and placed into circulation in early May 1938. Some of those coins were set aside and sent to the Swedish-American Tercentenary Committee in New York for sale at $1.00 per coin. The coin was engraved by Erik Lindberg, who is best known for creating the medals for the Nobel Prize in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Literature.
The Latin inscription on the reverse (the side with the ship), “NOVÆ SUECIÆ SUECIA MEMOR”, translates as “Sweden Remembers New Sweden”. Latin hadn’t appeared on a Swedish coin since the time of Gustav III in the late 18th century. The years 1638 and 1938 are featured on either side of the ship, a nod to the tercentenary. The ‘G’ privy mark below the ship’s stern stands for mint master Alf Gerhard Grabe. Below the bow, the St. Erik mintmark indicates the coin was minted in Stockholm. Above the Kalmar Nyckel is a depiction of the royal crown. Erik Lindberg’s Kalmar Nyckel is more angular and svelte than Carl Schmitz’s design. It’s a model of efficiency to get settlers to their destination safely and quickly.
Sweden’s King Gustav V, who attended the 1938 celebration in Delaware, is featured on the obverse. Around the King’s portrait is “GUSTAVUS V REX”, Latin for “King Gustaf V.” Below the neckline of the King’s portrait, the designer’s initials EL (Erik Lindberg) can be found.