Sweden, King Karl XI, ⅙ Öre Silvermynt – 1666 to 1686 CE – Swedish Empire For Sale Finishline

These ⅙ Öre silvermynts were a small denomination coin minted between 1666 and 1686 under King Karl XI of Sweden. The obverse features a crown and griffin, and the reverse bears the marking “SM,” which stands for silvermynt—meaning that the given amount of copper in these coins corresponds to a given amount of silver.

The time in which these coins were minted was known as the “Swedish Empire” period, when the kingdom became a great European power that controlled much of modern day Norway, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and more.

Therefore, ruling this vast empire would have been a lot to ask of a seven year old Karl XI, after his father died in 1660. His mother, Queen Hedvig Eleonora, would rule on behalf of the child as Queen Regent until he was 17 years old. During his initial parliamentary appearances, a shy teenage Karl would address the court through his mother, whispering his questions in her ear and having her address the court directly. He was considered nearly illiterate and poorly educated at the time, although contemporary research suggests he may have suffered from dyslexia—a poorly understood disorder in that era. 

Karl XI would grow into a ruler driven by a strong religious sense of duty, and was overall successful in his goals to reform and strengthen Sweden. He bolstered the kingdom’s economy by reducing Sweden’s reliance on foreign subsidies and managed to keep peace for much of his reign, despite nearly provoking war with Denmark in 1689. When Karl XI died at the age of 41 from stomach cancer, it set the stage for his son, Karl XII, to inherit a well-organized and militarily capable state.

Each includes a Certificate of Authenticity and is guaranteed genuine.