Copenhagen Type 1
The Copenhagen mintage of the 1 skilling 1771 began in 1773 with the so-called “Schimmelmann” variation, named after former treasurer Heinrich Schimmelmann. The dies were made by Johan Ephraim Bauert and backdated to 1771, the year Johan Henrik Wolff made the original variations at the Altona Mint. For a long time, “Schimmelmann” (Copenhagen Type 1) was considered the first and original variation of the 1 skilling 1771. It is now well documented, however, that this mintage took place later, as part of the large production programme of 5.27 million coins between 1773 and 1775.
Copenhagen Type 1 is characterized by its small letters and wide spacing. On the obverse, the monogram is cut straight at the top of the "C"s rather than formed into curls as in later variations. So far, 13 obverse and 22 reverse dies are known. Looking at the fonts, we can identify two developments during the production period, marked in green below. First, the shape of the “S” changes to a more curved form in Type 1b. Then, in Type 1c, the “E” becomes taller and slimmer. Bauert was quickly criticized because his fonts differed too much in appearance from Wolff’s original designs. By December 1773, public concern over the coins’ authenticity had become serious enough for the Danish authorities to publicly guarantee their value and explain the differences in appearance.
Copenhagen Type 2
In response to criticism of the “Schimmelmann” appearance, Bauert quickly changed his fonts and style to resemble the Altona variations more closely. In the Copenhagen Type 2 fonts below, we can still see elements of Bauert’s original style, although the letters have become somewhat larger. This is especially true of the characteristic “E”, while the “M” also retains much of its original design.
Written sources state that Bauert made 60 pairs of dies for the combined production of Copenhagen Types 1 and 2. We assume that most Type 2 variations were minted in 1774–1775, after the public statement concerning the authenticity of the Type 1 coins. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that some of the early Type 2 variations were produced in 1773 as well.
One of the more peculiar variations is Type 2f (C271). Here, Bauert used a different rosette design that more closely resembles the rosettes of the 2 skilling 1761:
Another design aberration is C259, where the dot after the “K” in “K.M.” has been omitted.
Copenhagen Type 3
In 1779, production of the 1771 skilling resumed in Copenhagen. The first two specimens were actually dated 1779 before it was decided to continue backdating the entire production to 1771, as had been done with Copenhagen Types 1 and 2. Copenhagen Type 3 is characterized by the smaller, symmetrical “M” with non-parallel legs, often leaning on its left leg.
Some of the variations are “rare” in the sense that they display unusual or unique features. Among the Type 3 variations are C375 ("DANKSE"), C344 ("SNILLING") and C315 (the coin with no dots). Some coins have a large dot instead of the usual rosette at the bottom, including C313, C325, C331, C332 and C342. Not to forget the two 1779-coins, C301 and C302.
Regarding the two dies dated 1779, it should be noted that they were probably made before a production halt in October/November 1779. On November 16, the Treasury Department finally decided to continue backdating the mintage in line with the current practice at Altona. We therefore speculate that the second 1779 die, C302, may have been taken out of production early—before it cracked—to align the appearance of the coins from the two mints.
The Copenhagen Type 3 mintage began in September 1779 and probably continued until production was halted in July 1781. Some Type 3 dies may also have remained in storage until production resumed in November 1782, as we have evidence of die pairings between Types 3 and 4. The exact timing and number of dies, however, remain uncertain. We have registered 47 obverse and 52 reverse dies and estimate that more than 3.5 million Type 3 coins were minted.
Copenhagen Type 4
Copenhagen Type 4 is a direct continuation of the Type 3 series. It is characterized by a change in the “M”, which becomes asymmetrical, with the middle leg skewed sharply to the left. In contrast to later variations, the “G” still has a circular shape.
So far, we have identified 39 obverse and 41 reverse dies with these characteristics. The mintage probably took place between November 1782 and early 1783 and amounted to approximately 2 million coins.
Copenhagen Type 5
There was an urgent need to increase production substantially in early 1783. Additional copper planchets were therefore secured from a merchant in Altona, enabling the Mint to produce close to 200,000 coins per week that year. Type 5 dies were introduced during the early part of 1783, at a time of particularly intense production.
Johan Henrik Wolff at the Altona Mint was on sick leave between April and September that year. To maintain production at Altona, Bauert therefore had to supply 1771 skilling dies to both mints. Between May and July, he sent 36 pairs of dies to Altona. We observe that the early Type 5 dies were used at the Copenhagen Mint during the first half of 1783, while many of the later dies were used at Altona during the second half of the year.
So far, we have identified 39 obverse and 35 reverse dies belonging to Copenhagen Type 5 and estimate that total mintage amounted to between 3 and 3.5 million coins. We believe that as many as half of these coins may have been minted at Altona.
We do not have a complete overview of the Type 5 dies that were sent to Altona, but several can be identified through known die pairings:
Reverses: C542, C545, C546, C547, C561, C562, C563, C564, C568, C569, C570, C571
Obverses: CO542, CO545, CO546, CO547, CO548, CO561, CO564, CO565, CO566, CO567, CO568, CO569, CO570, CO571
On average, these dies are also significantly more common than dies used exclusively for the Copenhagen mintage. A map of the Altona/Copenhagen die pairings can be found here.
Several alterations were made to the dies during the Copenhagen Type 5 series. The “G” loses its circular shape, the “N” becomes somewhat larger, and the shape of the “S” also changes. Apart from these features, the series is a direct continuation of Type 4, retaining the short “L” that distinguishes it from later production series.
There are also a few well-known coins from this series: C529 ("SKISLING"), C531 ("SKILLIING MK") and C505 (With the double rosettes at the top).
Several alterations were made to the dies during the Copenhagen Type 5 series. The “G” loses its circular shape, the “N” becomes somewhat larger, and the shape of the “S” also changes. Apart from these features, the series is a direct continuation of Type 4, retaining the short “L” that distinguishes it from later production series.
There are also a few well-known coins from this series: C529 ("SKISLING"), C531 ("SKILLIING MK") and C505 (With the double rosettes at the top).
Copenhagen Type 6
Copenhagen Type 6 is the largest production series, with 69 obverse and 76 reverse dies. It is divided into two main classifications as the “E” changes from an asymmetrical to a symmetrical shape. The main characteristics, however, are the long “L” and the change in the “M” to a form with less skew to the left. The “G” initially takes on a drop-like shape, while the “A” gradually becomes more pointed at the top, eventually developing into the Type 7 form. A third, more subtle variation, Type 6c, is characterized by an increase in the size of the “K”.
As with the Type 5 dies, many Type 6 dies were also sent to Altona during Johan Henrik Wolff’s sick leave. We do not have a complete overview of all of them, but so far we have identified the following dies as having been used at the Altona Mint:
Reverses: C601, C602, C603, C604, C605, C606, C607, C608, C609, C612, C614, C615, C647
Obverses: CO601, CO602, CO603, CO604, CO605, CO606, CO607, CO608, CO610, CO612, CO613
On average, these dies are also significantly more common than Type 6 dies used exclusively in Copenhagen. We estimate that the total Type 6 mintage amounted to approximately 5.5 million coins, fairly evenly divided between Altona and Copenhagen. The Copenhagen mintage probably took place during the summer of 1783. At Altona, we find evidence of a somewhat later production period extending from mid-1783 into the spring of 1784.
The better-known coins from the Type 6 series include C617 ("DANAKE"), C671 ("DNASKE") and C642 (the "EURO"-coin). As a curiosity, it is worth noting that C628 shows traces of an error where “K.M.” was clearly engraved over “77”. Similar traces can be seen on several earlier dies, including C271, C311, C373, C414 and C454, although the underlying “77” is more difficult to spot on these dies.
The better-known coins from the Type 6 series include C617 ("DANAKE"), C671 ("DNASKE") and C642 (the "EURO"-coin). As a curiosity, it is worth noting that C628 shows traces of an error where “K.M.” was clearly engraved over “77”. Similar traces can be seen on several earlier dies, including C271, C311, C373, C414 and C454, although the underlying “77” is more difficult to spot on these dies.
Copenhagen Type 7
Copenhagen Type 7 is characterized by two transitional forms of the “M” that precede the larger and more distinctive Type 8 “M”. Less obvious changes include an increase in the size of the “N” from Type 7c and a subtle change in the “A” from Type 7e. From this series onwards, the shape of the “7” also changes noticeably for the first time. All Type 7 coins were minted in 1783 as part of the large production programme that year. We have identified 34 obverse and 39 reverse dies. There is no evidence that these dies were paired with Altona dies. Based on the mintage figures, we therefore conclude that all Copenhagen Type 7 and Type 8 coins were struck at the Copenhagen Mint.
Copenhagen Type 8
Copenhagen Type 8 is characterized by the large “M” with a short middle leg and non-parallel outer legs. The obverse gradually becomes smaller until it reaches its final size in Type 8b.
We believe Type 8 production began in September or October 1783. Because we observe a sudden and fundamental change in fonts and style, we suspect that Johan Ephraim Bauert’s son, Georg Valentin Bauert, may have assisted his father in making the Type 8 dies, although he did not officially become an apprentice at the Mint until May 1784.
Johan Ephraim Bauert was absent for approximately nine months because of illness, from late 1784 into 1785. During this period, there was no mintage of the 1771 skilling in Copenhagen.
The final Type 8 coins were minted in July 1785. Altogether, we estimate that just over 4 million Type 8 coins were minted, using 61 obverse and 70 reverse dies.
