DENMARK. Speciedaler, 1671-GK. Copenhagen Mint. Christian V. NGC Unc Details--Cleaned.Dav-409; KM-317; Hede-63A; Sieg-60.1; Schou-7; Bruun-6759. Weight: 28.89 gms. Mintmaster: Gotfred Krüger. Engraver: Jeremias Hercules. Albeit lightly wiped, a most impressive and rare trade coin struck for the Danish East India Company).<p><em>The Danish East India Company (Dansk Ostindisk Compagni) was created on the initiative of Christian IV as the first Danish shareholding company. The king was the largest shareholder, but among the investors were nobility and citizens in Denmark, Norway and the duchies. The intention with the establishment of the company was to gain a share in the trade in spices, silk and cotton on a par with Holland and England, and the company was given a monopoly on trade with Asia by sea. In 1618 the first expedition was sent, and as a result of this expedition the trading station of Tranquebar was established on the Coromandel coast in south-east India. In the first years the financial yield was, however, modest and the company was dissolved in 1650. It was not until 1668 that a ship was again sent from Denmark-Norway to Asia, and in 1670 a new East India Company was established. As the trading goods were predominantly paid for in silver, the newly started company funded the present mintage, which they had obtained the privilege to mint at the Royal Mint in Copenhagen. At the end of the 17th century, trade experienced better business conditions and it was possible to send out an average of two ships per year.</em>From the L. E. Bruun Collection.<p>
