Denmark's Term of the Day: Krone
The Scandinavian (and Icelandic) Crown Chronicles: A Currency Tale
Hey there, buddy!
When veering to Denmark, you'll come across a familiar friend: krone. It's the name of the troupe's currency, and appropriately enough, it means "crown."
Hear Ye, Hear Ye: The Krone as You've Never Known
Prices tagged with krone can display one of two markings: or . No need to fret about the øre, for it's an outdated measure—a hundredth of the krone.
The you'd see indicates ten krone and 75 øre. Back in the day, it would signal 10.75 øre. Now, when settling cash, denominations in øre are rounded to the nearest full krone.
Tale of the Stashed Øre Coins
The øre still lives in our hearts (and pockets) in the form of the 50 øre coin, the last denomination of its kind, marked by its lack of the hole characteristic of the silver Danish coins. Copper-hued in color, it serves as a humble reminder of the 25 øre and 10 øre coins, abolished in '89 and '08, respectively.
History Hops Over to Nieghbors
Denmark's love affair with the Krone wasn't just a domestic affair. Its neighbors, Sweden, Norway, and even Iceland, shared the same affinity for the crown, deriving their currencies from this historical and cultural bond.
In the 1870s, they partook in a Scandinavian Monetary Union, allowing each to issue its currency while accepting others as legal tender. Before this, Danes used rigsdaler, Swedes used riksdaler, and Norwegians used speciedaler—all derived from silver Reichsthaler. The switch to the Krone signaled a transition from a silver-based currency to one based on gold.
Others Wearing the Wreath of the Crown
The Brits, Czechs, Estonians, Hungarians, and Slovaks have all had a fling with the crown. It served as a denomination of the British crown, worth five shillings or a quarter of an old pound. The Czech republic welcomes visitors with koruna (crowns), while Estonia boasted the kroon, Hungary the korona, and Slovakia the koruna.
The Horse's Head of the Coin
Save the front and back appreciations for bellying up to the bar. The "heads" side of the coin is named krone, while the "tails" side is called plat.
The Crown's Origins—A Story as Old as Time
The word 'krone' is traced back to the Latin word corona, used to describe a laurel wreath awarded to athletes. Later, it evolved to mean "crown or garland." Interestingly, the term corona seems to have come to our present crisis as well, with the virus nicknamed for its appearance similar to the solar corona.
In the realm of Denmark, the currency known as the 'krone' or 'crown' is prominent, carrying its historic significance.
Denmark's 'krone' has striking similarities with others in Scandinavia, such as Sweden and Norway, and even Iceland, forming a shared history and cultural bond.
Spending money in Denmark can lead to an encounter with the old øre, reflected in the price tags with markings like and , though it's now only a symbol with no monetary value.
Despite the abolishment of the øre coins, the 50 øre coin is reminiscent of the past, serving as a nostalgic tribute to the 25 øre and 10 øre coins.
Curiously, the crown has held relevance beyond Scandinavia, being used as a denomination in other countries including the British crown, Czech koruna, Estonian kroon, Hungarian korona, Slovak koruna, and even reflecting in the coronavirus, named for its resemblance to the solar corona.
