DENMARK’S MARGRETHE II ON COINAGE

The centuries-long tradition of the Kingdom of Denmark celebrating Royal events & anniversaries with the issue of a commemorative coin continues this month, as 2015 ushers in celebrations for the 75th birthday of one of Europe’s longest serving heads of state, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. The recent circulation coins of Denmark have undergone a lot of change, and the same goes for collector & commemorative issues. As a long-time collector myself, Danish coins have always been a favorite of mine to collect, mainly due to their variety and since their monetary reform in 1870, their frequency. Last year, the National Bank of Denmark made the disappointing announcement that due to the running costs of the Royal Danish Mint, which comes under their financial umbrella – and with the level of coinage anticipated in the coming years, they would be retiring the production facilities of the Royal Danish Mint from 2016 – and with it, more than five centuries of numismatic tradition. For this reason, the 2015 coin is especially poignant & relevant as it may likely be the last commemorative coin produced by the Royal Danish Mint before further production is tendered out to an exterior Mint facility.

If you are one of those collectors who can appreciate the fact that the Royal Danish Mint hasn’t “churned out” dozens of coins per year which in a real way, lessens their exclusivity or specialness associated with a commemorative coin, then Denmark is a country you should have or should be collecting. However, the fact that they haven’t bought in to producing many products may well be the reason the Bank has made the disappointing decision to fold up shop – thus ending a fine national tradition spanning more than 500 years.

As a tribute to some of my favorite coins which I’ve managed to acquire over the last couple of decades and in honor of the latest Danish silver Birthday crown, I’d like to focus on the previous birthday coins issued during Queen Margarethe II’s reign, beginning with the first one issued in 1958 celebrating her 18th birthday when her father King Frederik IX was the Danish monarch – to this coin issued on the 8th April which brings this specific topic to five in total. Previously, there have been coins marking the Queen’s 18th, (before her accession) her 50th, 60th and 70th birthdays. The stark differences which can be seen on all of these coins is a treat for admirers of diverse approach to design, a real delight to behold, all so different from one another and for so many reasons!

To read the complete article, see:
Denmark’s Margrethe II, A Numismatic Evolution From Princess to Queen, 1958 – 2015 (http://news.coinupdate.com/denmarks-margrethe-ii-a-numismatic-evolution-from-princess-to-queen-4776/)

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web