NEW BOOK: DE KONGELIGE MØNTSTEDER I ALTONA OG KØBENHAVN 1813-1873

Most of the world’s mints underwent important changes in the 19th century as a consequence of the significant economic, political and technical development. Though mints were key works in societies with monetary systems based on precious metals, the mints in the realm of the Danish king have so far not been the subject of exhaustive historical studies.

This thesis is a study of the mints in Altona near Hamburg and Copenhagen circa 1813-73; it is based primarily on the extensive written source material generated by the two state-owned coin producing facilities.

The introduction with presentation of source material, method and theory is followed by the thesis’ three main chapters, which focus on 1) tasks and organization, 2) technique, and 3) production.

The settings for the mints’ activities are studied in the first chapter. The primary task was coin production for the state, while the secondary tasks were other operations for the state and coin production for private customers. Each mint was characterised by a hierarchical structure and control with approximately 10-12 specialised employees and a varying number of day-labourers.

The second chapter is a study of the mints’ physical settings, energy sources and production stages in an international perspective with focus on technique. It shows a significant change in the minting technique; new machines and/or methods replaced old techniques, which meant widespread mechanisation and important qualitative and quantitative improvements.

The new minting techniques were imported primarily from England and Germany, especially after study tours. The Copenhagen mint was among the most advanced works in Denmark, and both mints’ technique was internationally prominent in the first third of the century. Denmark was in that period one of the few countries in which all mints produced the new modern coins that still dominate today.

The coinage and the mints’ role in the monetary policy are the basis for the third chapter’s study of the production. It shows that the period was dominated by a) tasks for the state, e.g. monetary counselling, but especially the state’s attempt to create a common, homogeneous monetary system in the kingdom and the duchies, b) extensive coin production for private customers from the 1820’s to the 1850-60’s, and c) cooperation with the National Bank, which undertook important coin production and came to play an increasingly important role for the mints.

The changing economic and political conditions and the state’s demands presented different challenges and an uneven development of the mints, e.g. the Altona mint was closed down in 1863. This development and the decline in private customers in the 1850-60’s, the National Bank’s increasing role and the mechanisation of the production led to modernisation of the mints and their production in the 19th century.

ISBN: 978-87-7674-637-7
Price c. 53 EUROs.
350 pages.
more than 300 illustrations, many regarding minting techniques/coin production/mints
Large format, 25x28 cm.

For more information, or to order, see: De kongelige møntsteder i Altona og København 1813-1873 (www.universitypress.dk/shop/de-kongelige-moentsteder-3162p.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web