1634-1654 Swedish Dominion of Livonia Silver Solidus of Queen Christina

Struck over 360 years ago this silver solidus recalls the first permanent Swedish settlement in the Americas. In the 1600s, Sweden was one of the European powerhouses and hoped to take advantage of the lucrative fur trade and other resources that the New World offered. Swedish ships landed in Delaware Bay in spring of 1638, and the colonists built Fort Christina. Named for the 12-year-old Swedish queen, the fort established the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley. Older and more affordable than most U.S. colonial coinage, this coin honoring Sweden's impetuous girl-queen Christina dates back to America's earliest days.

The coin's obverse displays a crowned "C," and the queen's name, christina. The reverse features crossed keys, a symbol of Riga, a city in the Swedish Dominion of Livonia where the coin was struck. Always eager to hatch a plot or stir up trouble, Christina found she couldn't escape the expectation that she had to marry. Rather than conform, she abdicated in 1654, giving the throne to her cousin Karl Gustavus. Because so few of Christina's coins were issued, they're hard to find in quantity today. Thanks to a small group we've located, you can own this rare coin – don't wait, these may never be available again!