Swedish 20 Kronor Gold Coin Oskar II 1877-1899

This is the 20 Kronor gold coin from Sweden with Oskar II and the design issued between 1877 and 1899. Only 12 million of these coins were produced (compared to the vast quantities of British coins) and production of Oskar II Swedish Kronors ceased in 1902.

The obverse side of the coin features the younger of Oskar's two coin portraits, the year of the coin's minting, and the words OSCAR II SVERIGES OCH NORGES KONUNG which, in English, translates as Oscar II - Sweden and Norway's King.

On the reverse of the gold Kronor is the Swedish Royal Coat of Arms. The King's motto, Brödrafolkens väl (The Welfare of the Brother Peoples), sits above this. The initials E.B. can be seen on the reverse, which stand for the engraver Emil Brusewitz.

King Oskar II was the King of Sweden and Norway, ruling from 1872 until 1905 in Norway, and until 1907 and his death as the ruler of Sweden. Oscar was considered quite a modern man, with mixed interests from science and maths to writing and music. He also learnt to be fluent in Norwegian, so he could fulfil his duties as King better. He was the last Bernadotte King of Norway, and the two nations ceased to be unified after his passing.