Currencies/Danish rosenobel
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Introduction
The Danish Rosenobel (also known as Guldridder) was a gold coin issued in the Kingdom of Denmark during the reign of King Christian IV (1588–1648). It was first struck around 1611 and continued to be minted until approximately 1629. The Rosenobel was among the most prestigious Danish gold issues of the early 17th century, reflecting the wealth and maritime ambitions of Denmark during its rise as a European power under Christian IV.
History
The Rosenobel was introduced by Christian IV in 1611, a period marked by Denmark’s economic growth and active participation in international trade. The coin’s design and name were inspired by the English noble and Rosenoble types, renowned across Europe for their high gold content and detailed artistry.
Minted primarily in Copenhagen, the Rosenobel served both as a trade coin and as a symbol of royal authority. It was not part of everyday domestic circulation but rather used in high-value exchanges, gifts, and state-level payments.
Production of the coin continued through the 1610s and 1620s, with the last known issues appearing around 1629. The Rosenobel represented Denmark’s participation in the European gold standard and its efforts to assert economic and political prestige during Christian IV’s reign, which was one of Denmark’s most prosperous cultural eras.
Coins
The Danish Rosenobel was struck in gold of .833 fineness, following the contemporary standards for large international trade coins. It was produced in both full and half denominations, known as Rosenobel and ½ Rosenobel, respectively.
The full Rosenobel typically weighed about 8.99 grams and measured 29 millimetres in diameter, while the half version weighed around 4.5 grams and measured 24 millimetres. Both were minted using high-relief engraving and the traditional hammered coinage technique of the early 17th century.
The obverse bore a crowned bust of Christian IV facing right, surrounded by the legend CHRISTIANUS IIII D G DANIÆ N V G REX (“Christian IV, by the Grace of God, King of Denmark and Norway”). The reverse depicted a war elephant walking left, carrying a tower with armed soldiers — a symbol of Danish royal strength and the Order of the Elephant — with the inscription MONETA NOVA AUREA (“New Gold Coin”) and the year of issue below.
Minor variations exist across issues, including the arrangement of inscriptions and symbols, depending on the minting year. All coins were struck at the Royal Danish Mint in Copenhagen, and specimens were produced in Proofs, Tests, and Standard Circulation qualities.
Currency
The Rosenobel was valued primarily by its gold weight rather than by an assigned face value. It circulated alongside other major gold issues of Europe, such as the ducat, noble, and thaler, and was occasionally used for international trade settlements, royal ceremonies, and military funding.
It was not part of the everyday monetary system of skilling and rigsdaler denominations but rather belonged to the elite category of gold coins that reinforced Denmark’s status as a regional maritime and economic power.
Legacy
The Danish Rosenobel is considered one of the most remarkable coins of Christian IV’s reign and a masterpiece of early modern Danish minting. Its distinctive elephant motif — later associated with the Order of the Elephant, Denmark’s highest order of chivalry — made it unique among contemporary European coinages.
Today, surviving examples of the Rosenobel are extremely rare and are held in national museums, including the National Museum of Denmark, as well as major numismatic collections worldwide. The coin symbolizes Denmark’s golden era of trade, naval power, and artistic excellence during the early 17th century.