Medal, Gustav IV Adolf, Ironworks
Sweden was one of the world’s leading iron producers for long periods from the mid-13th century until the 19th century. Around 1750, iron accounted for around 70 per cent of all our exports. We traded in high quality, malleable bar iron.
The owners of the ironworks had a medal struck for the occasion when King Gustav IV Adolf took office in government in November 1796. On the reverse, we see a hammer mill where the blacksmith is forging some bar iron using a water-powered bar iron hammer. On the left is a farmhand who pulls on a lever to allow the power of the water to set the hammer in motion. In the background are engine houses, ore barrels, steps, ladders and mine mouths in the rock.
