Stack's Bowers' Bruun Collection Sale Encompasses Nearly 500 Years of Danish Kings

The history of nearly 500 years of Danish kings is magnificently captured in a group of extremely rare Scandinavian coins from the L.E. Bruun Collection that is being offered in an upcoming auction. Certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®), the nearly 300 coins are being offered in a Stack's Bowers Galleries auction being held at 2 p.m. (8 a.m. EDT) on September 14, 2024. Bidding is already underway.

Lars Emil Bruun, a Danish entrepreneur who made his fortune in butter and real estate, amassed a collection of 20,000 pieces from Denmark and other Scandinavian countries. Keenly aware that his homeland was not invulnerable (its capital had been devasted by a fire in the 18th century and by war in the 19th century), he ordered his extraordinary collection to be set aside for a century to serve as a replacement for the one owned by the Danish government, in case it was lost or destroyed. Now that 100 years have passed since his death, this stunning collection, which is insured for more than $70 million, is being offered to the public.

"This selection of coins represents a unique opportunity in Scandinavian numismatics, one the world is likely never to see again," said Ben Wengel, NGC Senior Vice President of World Coin Grading. "NGC is proud to have certified these and thousands of other coins from this unprecedented private collection, the life's work of a man who loved his country and its fascinating numismatic heritage."

The coins in the auction tell the story of Denmark's rise as a regional power and influential commercial force far beyond northern Europe. Represented are 18 kings whose reigns stretch from before Columbus' journey to America through the end of World War II. Below are the stories of the rulers who issued these coins:

Hans (John)

Ruled: 1481-1513
Known for: In addition to ruling as king of Denmark, Hans also ruled Norway beginning in 1483 and Sweden from 1497 to 1501, until the Swedes renounced him and war ensued.
Coin shown: Denmark 1496 Noble graded NGC AU 55 (lot 1001)
Estimate: €300,000 to €600,000 (about $330,000 to $660,000)
Other coins from this ruler: Denmark (undated) Goldgulden graded NGC XF 45 (lot 1002)

Christian II

Ruled: 1513-1523
Known for: The son of Hans, he reconquered Sweden and brutally suppressed its leaders in the Stockholm Bloodbath of 1520. This sparked the Swedish War of Liberation, in which Sweden split from Denmark. At home, he angered Danish nobles and church leaders with progressive policies, which weakened his position, leading to his ouster by his uncle in 1523.
Coin shown: Denmark 1523 Silver Gulden graded NGC VF 35 (lot 1003)
Estimate: €4,000 to €5,000 (about $4,400 to $5,500)
Other coins from this ruler: none in auction

Frederik I

Ruled: 1523-1533
Known for: After driving his unpopular nephew from power, he carefully navigated religious strife among Catholics and Lutherans in the wake of the Protestant Reformation. When he died, Christian II was still alive and again vied for the Danish throne, backed by Catholic allies.
Coin shown: Denmark 1527 Goldgulden graded NGC AU Details (lot 1004)
Estimate: €40,000 to €60,000 (about $44,000 to $66,000)
Other coins from this ruler: none in this action

Christian III

Ruled: 1534-1559
Known for: The son of Frederik I, Christian III had to first challenge Christian II for power during the civil war known as the Count's Feud (1534-1536). A Protestant, Christian III prevailed, and then made Lutheranism the state religion. He also established the union of Denmark and Norway, which lasted until 1814.
Coin shown: Norway 1546 Solvgylden graded NGC AU Details (lot 1174)
Estimate: €200,000 to €300,000 (about $220,000 to $330,000)
Other coins from this ruler: Denmark 1545 Taler graded NGC VF 35 (lot 1006), Denmark 1537 Joachimsdaler graded NGC XF 40 (lot 1005), Denmark 1547 Taler graded NGC XF 40 (lot 1007)

Frederik II

Ruled: 1559-1588
Known for: He inherited the throne from his father and is known for building castles, including the Kronborg. He also is remembered for promoting science and strengthening the royal fleet.
Coin shown: Denmark 1563 Goldgulden Klippe (lot 1008)
Estimate: €15,000 to €18,000 (about $16,500 to $19,800)
Other coins from this ruler: Denmark 1564 Ducat Klippe graded NGC UNC Details (lot 1009)

Christian IV

Ruled: 1588-1648
Known for: He had the longest rule in Scandinavian history, just shy of 60 years, beginning when he was 10 years old. His achievement of building a wealthy and stable kingdom was undermined by the Thirty Years War late in his reign. He rebuilt Norway's capital and named it Christiania, after himself; today it is called Oslo.
Coin shown: Denmark 1608 3 Goldgulden graded NGC MS 62 (lot 1021)
Estimate: €200,000 to €300,000 (about $220,000 to $330,000)
Other coins from this ruler: Denmark 1623 10 Ducats graded NGC AU 53 (lot 1029), Denmark (undated) 10 Ducats graded NGC AU 58 (lot 1050), Norway 1644 PG 4 Speciedaler graded NGC AU Details (lot 1183)

Frederik III

Ruled: 1648-1670
Known for: He suffered a series of military setbacks at the hands of Sweden but was able to fend off a siege of his capital, Copenhagen, in the late 1650s with Dutch help. He then leveraged his popularity and transformed the government into an absolute monarchy.
Coin shown: Norway (1661) 2 Speciedaler graded NGC AU 58 (lot 1217)
Estimate: €500,000 to €750,000 (about $550,000 to $825,000)
Other coins from this ruler: Norway 1656 FG 4 Speciedaler graded NGC AU 55 (lot 1196), Norway 1660 FG Ducat graded NGC AU Details (lot 1202), a Norway 1650 PG 3 Speciedaler graded NGC AU Details (lot 1187), a Norway 1657 FG 3 Speciedaler graded NGC AU Details (lot 1199)

Christian V

Ruled: 1670-1699
Known for: After succeeding his father, he became embroiled in the Scanian War, which was fought mostly in southern Sweden, a region formerly controlled by Denmark that it unsuccessfully tried to regain.
Coin shown: Norway 1680 PG 4 Speciedaler graded NGC MS 61 (lot 1224)
Estimate: €250,000 to €350,000 (about $275,000 to $385,000)
Other coins from this ruler: Denmark 1689 GS Gold 4 Mark graded NGC MS 61 (lot 1111), Norway (undated) 2 Ducats graded NGC MS 61 (lot 1230), Norway 1673 2 Ducats graded NGC AU 55 (lot 1222), Norway 1673 2 Ducats graded NGC AU 55 (lot 1221)

Frederik IV

Ruled: 1699-1730
Known for: Much of his reign coincided with the Great Northern War (1700-1721), in which Denmark fought on the winning side. Near the end of his reign, the Copenhagen Fire of 1728 wiped out a quarter of the city and much of its cultural heritage.
Coin shown: Denmark 1704 5 Ducats graded NGC MS 63 PL (lot 1127)
Estimate: €80,000 to €100,000 (about $88,000 to $110,000)
Other coins from this ruler: Denmark 1713 CW Gold 16 Skilling graded NGC MS 64 (lot 1133), Denmark 1708 2 Ducats graded NGC MS 63 (lot 1130), Denmark 1710 2 Ducats graded NGC AU 58 (lot 1132)

Christian VI

Ruled: 1730-1746
Known for: He managed to keep the country out of war during his reign and introduced a nationwide school system. His health was never great, however, and he died at age 46.
Coin shown: Denmark 1732 Rejsedaler graded NGC MS 64+ (lot 1139)
Estimate: €40,000 to €60,000 (about $44,000 to $66,000)
Other coins from this ruler: Denmark 1732 Ducat graded NGC MS 63+ (lot 1138), Denmark 1738 Ducat graded NGC MS 63 (lot 1140)

Frederik V

Ruled: 1746-1766
Known for: Commerce, art and science did well under his reign. The king himself suffered from alcoholism, but his ministers kept the country out of war.
Coin shown: Denmark (1746) A 2 Ducats graded NGC MS 65★ (lot 1142)
Estimate: €15,000 to €30,000 (about $16,500 to $33,000)
Other coins from this ruler: Denmark 1746 A 2 Ducats graded NGC MS 65 (lot 1143), Denmark (1746) AA 2 Ducats graded NGC MS 65+★ (lot 1141), Denmark 1746 A 2 Ducats graded NGC MS 64 (lot 1144)

Christian VII

Ruled: 1766-1808
Known for: Due to this king's mental illness, the country was effectively ruled first by his court physician and later by his stepmother, half-brother and a powerful Danish politician, and finally by his son and eventual successor, Frederik VI, as regent. The coin shown here is from the Danish Asiatic Company, which succeeded the Danish East India Company and was itself absorbed into the Danish government in 1772, following a 40-year monopoly.
Coin shown: Danish Asia Co. 1777 Piastre graded NGC MS 62 (lot 1152)
Estimate: €80,000 to €120,000 (about $88,000 to $132,000)
Other coins from this ruler: Norway 1768 TL Speciedaler graded NGC MS 64★ (lot 1232), Norway 1794 HIAB Speciedaler graded NGC MS 65+ (lot 1234), Denmark (1771) W Christian d'Or graded NGC MS 66 (lot 1156)

Frederik VI

Ruled: 1808-1839
Known for: The British bombardment of Copenhagen in 1807 pushed Frederik VI to ally with Napoleon. By 1814, military setbacks forced Denmark to give up Norway, which was soon united with Sweden. Frederik had no male heirs, so the throne passed to his paternal half cousin.
Coin shown: Denmark 1822 IC//FF Silver Pattern Speciedaler graded NGC MS 63 (lot 1158)
Estimate: €7,000 to €10,000 (about $7,700 to $11,000)
Other coins from this ruler: Denmark 1836 CC/FF 2 Frederik d'Or graded NGC MS 65+ (lot 1160), Denmark 1830 IC/FF 2 Frederik d'Or graded NGC MS 64+ (lot 1159)

Christian VIII

Ruled: 1839-1848
Known for: He ruled less than a decade and disappointed those who had hoped for liberal reforms.
Coin shown: Denmark 1841 CC 2 Christian d'Or (lot 1163)
Estimate: €8,000 to €12,000 (about $8,800 to $13,200)
Other coins from this ruler: Denmark 1843 FK/FF Christian d'Or graded NGC MS 67★ (lot 1164), Denmark 1840 Speciedaler graded NGC PF 65 (lot 1162)

Frederik VII

Ruled: 1848-1863
Known for: He transformed Denmark into a constitutional monarchy. He had no legitimate heirs, and his second cousin was recognized as the next king
Coin shown: Denmark 1850 FK/VS 2 Frederik d'Or graded NGC MS 69 (lot 1166)
Estimate: €15,000 to €30,000 (about $16,500 to $33,000)
Other coins from this ruler: Denmark 1849 FK//VS Speciedaler graded NGC MS 67 (lot 1165), Denmark 1855 FK-FF 2 Rigsdaler graded NGC MS 66 (lot 1167)

Christian IX

Ruled: 1863-1906
Known for: At the start of his reign, Austria and Prussia prevailed in the Second Schleswig War, forcing Denmark to give up lands it had historically controlled to the south. His long reign and strong character eventually helped his popularity recover.
Coin shown: Denmark 1869 HC//CS Christian d'Or graded NGC MS 67+ (lot 1168)
Estimate: €8,000 to €10,000 (about $8,000 to $11,000)
Other coins from this ruler: Denmark 1890 HC CS 20 Kronor graded NGC PF 68 Cameo (lot 1170), Denmark 1872 HC-CS 2 Rigsdaler graded NGC PF 67 (lot 1169)

Frederik VIII

Ruled: 1906-1912
Known for: He only attained power at the age of 62, and his short reign was hobbled by his ill health.
Coin shown: Denmark 1910 VBP GJ 20 Kroner graded NGC PF 68 Cameo (lot 1171)
Estimate: €7,000 to €10,000 (about $7,700 to $11,000)
Other coins from this ruler: none in this auction

Christian X

Ruled: 1912-1947
Known for: The king kept Denmark out of World War I and remained in his country as a symbol of hope throughout the occupation by Germany during World War II. During his reign, women gained the right to vote and Iceland, which had been controlled by Denmark for centuries, became independent.
Coin shown: Denmark 1915 VBP AH 20 Kroner graded NGC PF 67 (lot 1172)
Estimate: €6,000 to €8,000 (about $6,600 to $8,800)
Other coins from this ruler: none in this auction

You can also see a video of top highlights of the collection below.

All estimates are provided by the auction house. The $ symbol represents US Dollars.