4 daler, Johan III,
This is a commemorative coin in silver struck in Vadstena. These coins were called ’praktmynt’ (literally: splendid coins) and were not intended to be used as ordinary means of payment but to be given as gifts. The dies (stamps) for the coin come from the mint in Stockholm, where they had been used to strike gold commemorative coins. In Vadstena they were struck in the denominations 4, 3, 1 and 1/2 daler.
On the obverse (front) we see King Johan III with crown, sword and coat of arms surrounded by the coats of arms of all the provinces of Sweden. On the reverse (back) is the great coat of arms of Sweden. It is surrounded by two of the king's mottoes in Latin, one of which, ‘BENE FACIENDO NEMINEM TIMEMUS’ - ‘by doing good we fear no one’, is only found on the ‘praktmynt’ and the double riksdaler.
