10 daler silvermynt, Avesta, Kristina, 1644
This 10 daler silver coin is the largest coin in the world. Not in terms of its denomination, but in terms of its weight, which is close to 20 kilos. The coin is so big and heavy because at the time, coins were known as full bodied coins, which means that their value was equal to their metal value. A copper coin in the denomination of 10 daler silver would therefore be very big and heavy because copper has a lower value than silver. In 1644 and 1645, 26,774 10 daler silver coins were produced in Avesta. The shape and name of the coins, plate money, came from the Hungarian copper plates that had been produced in Sweden for export since the 1540s.
After a few years' hiatus, the production of tin coins was resumed and between 1649 and 1769 plate money was issued in the denominations 1/2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8 daler silver coins. On 1 January 1777, plate money ceased to be a means of payment and became a mere commodity.
1786 - 1809, plate money was again produced in Avesta as an export product in the denomination 4 daler sm stamped with old stamps. Of the 10 daler sm plate money minted in 1644-1645, there are only eight known surviving examples in the world today. Six of them are in the collections of the Royal Coin Cabinet.
)Object number: 401540_KMK