The introduction of the Norway Gold Kroner coin in 1875 followed the currency alignments of the Scandinavian Kingdoms in 1872. Although numerous coins were minted, only the 20 and 10 Kroner were in gold. Even though the first official release was in 1875, it is noteworthy that some Norway Gold Kroner coins bear an 1874 date. The production of the Norway Gold Kroner gold coins for circulation was stopped in 1910. Only 198,000 gold coins were minted from 1874 to 1910.
The most popular coin is the smooth-edged Norway Gold 20 Kroner. It weighs 8.96 grams gross and has an aggregate gold weight of 0.2593 t/oz. The Gold Kroner’s gold fineness is 0.900 and it has a medal alignment orientation. Its diameter is 27.5 millimeters and has a thickness of 2.2 millimeters. The relatively less popular 10 kroner coin has a mass weight of 6.8 grams, a thickness of 2 millimeters, and a diameter of 24 millimeters. Unlike the 20 kroner gold coin, the 10 kronor gold coin has an interrupted milling edge.
The obverse of the Norway Gold 20 Kroner coin contains King Oscar II’s effigy facing towards the right. It also contains two sets of inscriptions that surround the effigy. Towards the top, the inscription reads, “OSCAR II NORGES o. SVER. KONGE”, which translates to, “Oscar II, king of Norway and Sweden”. Towards the bottom, the inscription, “BRODERFOLKENES VEL”, which translates to, “Well being of the brother nations”, appears. The reverse contains the coat of arms at the center, the value inscription, “20 KRONER” at the top and “124 Stk . 19 02 1 Kil.f.G.” at the bottom.
The Royal Norwegian Mint (now Mint of Norway) that was established in 1686. In Norwegian, the name is Den Kongelige Mynt. In 1962, the Central Bank of Norway (Noregs Bank/Norges Bank) took over the Mint before incorporating it in 2001 as a private firm. It was then renamed to The Norwegian Mint (Det Norske Myntverket) and all its shares sold to the Mint of Finland and Samlerhuset AS in 50/50 shareholding. Being legal tender, trading in the Norway Gold Kroner coin attracts no sales tax or VAT.