Daler

The Daler was the most common currency in Sweden from the early 17th century. It was not one single currency but rather a system of currencies with floating exchange rates. There was one Daler minted in Silver and another minted in Copper, where the exchange rates between the two would eventually stabilize at a ratio of 1 to 3. Each Daler was divided into 4 Mark which also was equal to 32 Öre. One Öre was divided into 24 Penningar, or Pennies.

In 1776 the old currency was exchanged for a new national currency called the Riksdaler, or the "Daler of the Realm". The Riksdaler was issued both in banknotes, which is Fiat money, and minted in Silver. At first only the Bank of the Riksdag of the Estates or Riksens ständers bank, could issue banknotes, but in 1789 the Debt office or Riksgäldskontoret was started and given the right to issue its own banknotes. The Riksdaler Specie was minted in Silver, the Riksdaler Banco was issued by the Bank of Sweden and the Riksdaler Riksgälds was issued by the Debt office.

The Riksdaler Specie was protected against inflation through its connection to Silver but the banknotes suffered heavily from a seigniorage induced inflation. In 1834 you had to pay 2 2/3 Riksdaler Banco or 4 Riksdaler Riksgälds for one Riksdaler Specie. Under the reform of 1776 one Riksdaler was equal to 48 Skillingar or Schillings and each Skilling was divided into 16 Runstycken or Runes.

In 1855 two reforms took place, the introduction of the Riksdaler Riksmynt and the change to a decimal system. One Riksdaler Specie was equal to 4 Riksdaler Riksmynt which was divided into 100 Öre. The Scandinavian Monetary Union in 1873, replaced the Riksdaler with a new currency, the Krona, not only in Sweden, but also in Denmark and Norway.

See also: Krone, Króna

Referenced By