Medals

Norwegian royal and commemorative medals

The Norwegian medals in this category follow the history of the country from the union period to the present. They include medals for the coronation of Oscar II and Queen Sophie in 1873 and of Haakon VII and Queen Maud in 1906, the Norwegian millenary in 1872, the unveiling of the statue of King Carl XIV Johan in 1875 and the dissolution of the union with Sweden on 7 June 1905. Later royal medals include jubilee and centenary medals for Haakon VII and Olav V and the centenary medal of the royal house (1905–2005).

Other Norwegian medals mark events such as the opening of the National Theatre in 1899, the Jubilee Exhibition at Frogner in 1914, agricultural meetings and exhibitions, and company anniversaries.

Merit medals, orders and decorations

Norwegian merit medals in the category include the Medal for Civic Deeds (Medaljen for borgerdaad) from the reigns of Oscar I to Oscar II, the Medal for Noble Deeds (1885–1905), King Oscar II’s medal for meritorious service and the Crown Prince’s medal for academic research (1849). There is also a case model for King Haakon VII’s Medal for Meritorious Service, a medal established in 1908.

• Norway: the War Cross, established in 1941, a miniature of the Order of St. Olav and a Second World War badge.
• Denmark: the Order of the Dannebrog, a medal for saving life from drowning (1897) and Frederik IX’s medal of recompense.
• Sweden: the Orders of the North Star, the Sword and Vasa, and medals for the promotion of horse breeding.
• Russia: the Orders of St. Anne and St. Stanislaus, including pieces in gold.
• Elsewhere: the French Legion of Honour, the German Iron Cross of 1939, and orders and badges from Austria, Egypt, Finland, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and others.

Historical medals and tokens

The oldest medals date from the late 17th and 18th centuries. Danish examples commemorate the capture of Marstrand in 1719, the Reformation jubilee of 1717, the anointing of Queen Louise in 1747, the death of Frederik V in 1766 and the royal house jubilee of 1749. Swedish medals include the coronation of Gustav III in 1772 and Charles XII at Bender in 1709. The category also has tokens: brass tokens from Christiania Dampkjøkken and Swedish mining tokens from Sala (1682) and Stora Kopparberg (1765).

What affects the value of a medal?

Condition, metal, rarity and the presence of the original ribbon or case all matter. A named or documented recipient adds historical interest, and for orders, enamel damage and the difference between full size and miniature are important. For coins from the same periods, see Norway 1814 – 1874 and Norway after 1874.