Nordic Seven Years’ War (1563-1570)

Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 1218. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $400. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SWEDEN. Erik XIV. 1560–1568. AR Sexton Øre Klippe. Siege issue. Stockholm mint; Jost Höjer, mintmaster. Dated 1564. Crowned coat-of-arms with E R separated by three dots; to left, cross above • 16; to right, cross above OR • / Crowned Swedish coat-of-arms; • 15 - 64 • across field. Cf. Tingström 22; AAH 45; Mailliet 15. In an NGC slab graded VF 30.

Much of Erik XIV’s reign was occupied by the Nordic Seven Years’ War (1563-1570), a period of instability during which Sweden fought against Denmark and Poland for territory. As the need for war funding grew, Erik minted a series of “klippings” in several denominations from 1562 until he was deposed in 1568. These coins were easy to manufacture and were also produced during the reigns of Gustav Vasa, Johann III, and Karl IX when a large quantity of coinage was needed.