6 Rigsdaler courant – Denmark

In 1826, Denmark operated under a complex and strained monetary system, a legacy of the state bankruptcy declared in 1813 following the Napoleonic Wars. To address the crippling national debt, the government had introduced the Rigsbankdaler as a new paper currency, intended to replace the older and devalued Rigsdaler. However, this new currency was not fully trusted by the public and circulated alongside a bewildering array of older coins, both domestic and foreign, creating a chaotic multi-currency environment where values were constantly negotiated.

The core problem was a severe shortage of stable, tangible silver coinage. The Rigsbankdaler was a specie-backed currency in law, but the Rigsbank often lacked the silver reserves to redeem notes on demand, leading to a persistent gap between the paper money's face value and its actual market worth. Consequently, daily commerce was conducted using a confusing mix of Rigsbankdaler notes, older silver Rigsdaler coins (which held a premium), and even foreign currencies like the Hamburg Mark Banco, which was widely used in international trade.

This period was one of cautious transition and deflationary pressure. The government, committed to eventually restoring a full silver standard, was slowly retiring debt and building reserves. For merchants and the public in 1826, however, this meant navigating a fragile and inefficient system where the value of money was uncertain, complicating trade and contracts. The situation would gradually stabilize over the subsequent decades, culminating in the adoption of the modern krone and a secure silver standard with the Currency Act of 1873.