Kongsberg

 

 Christian V taler with edge inscription 

 

 Olav V, five-krone anniversary medal from 1986 

 

 In 1623, silver ore was found in Sandsvær. The next year the mining town of Kongsberg was founded and the silver mine built. Initially, the silver was sent to Copenhagen for minting. In 1628, however, a coin workshop was established west of the old fire-gutted Oslo, in Christiania. Not until 1686 was the Royal Norwegian Mint established at Kongsberg. Since then, for more than 300 years, the Royal Norwegian Mint has been in the same place, below the southwestern abutment of the bridge over the rapids at the centre of Kongsberg (Nybrofossen).  

Today the Royal Norwegian Mint is a modern production company, producing millions of coins annually for circulation, issues for collectors, honorary medals and other medals. 

A fine series of species taler from the 1690s carry edge inscriptions referring to the wealth of silver in the Sandsvær region: 

Hidden in the hills, mined by our men, 
flowing from the ovens, the silver is our wealth

"Det klipperne yder, vor bergmand udbryder 
hvad hytten da gyder, af mynten vi nyder" 

God hid this Nordic treasure 
for King Christian the Fifth's pleasure

"Saadan Nordens skat Gud giemte 
til kong Christian den femte" 

Monetary units: 
from quarter-species taler to four-species taler, from half-skilling to 48-skilling, from 1/15th riksdaler to one riksdaler, one øre to 20 kroner, from half-mark to four-mark.		 Issuing authorities: 
Christian V, Frederik IV, Christian VI, Frederik V, Christian VII, Frederik VI, Carl XIII, Carl XIV, Oscar I, Carl XV, Oscar II, Haakon VII, Olav V, Harald V