How to Identify the 1 Skilling

Start With the Crown and the Date

Begin with the two strongest cues. A genuine coin of this type shows a royal crown above ornamental elements on one face and an inscription carrying the value and the year 1771 on the other. The crown marks it as a royal Danish issue, and the 1771 date fixes it to the reign of Christian VII. Read the date carefully, since crown-and-inscription skillings were struck across several years and reigns.

Confirm Both Sides Match the Type

One face should be dominated by the crown over ornament; the opposite face should present a decorative field with lettering stating the denomination and date rather than a portrait or a coat of arms. If your coin shows a royal bust, a full heraldic shield, or a monogram instead of this crown-and-inscription layout, it is a different Danish issue or a different denomination.

Check Size, Metal, and Wear

This is a small, light copper coin, warm brown or coppery in tone rather than bright silver-white. Expect the thin, modest diameter of a single-skilling piece and, on most survivors, softened crown detail and partly flat inscriptions from long circulation. A heavy, silver-toned, or much larger coin of similar motifs is a higher skilling value or a different denomination, so weigh size and metal together with the date.

Rule Out Look-Alikes

Denmark struck a family of skilling denominations, including larger silver skillings and higher copper values, that share royal symbolism but differ in size and stated value; always read the denomination and gauge the diameter. Also distinguish this from the copper skillings of neighboring Sweden and of Norway, which was joined to Denmark in this era, since those can look broadly similar but carry different legends and national marks.

Authentication Cautions

As a common, low-value copper coin, the 1 skilling is not a frequent target for counterfeiting, so the practical focus is correct attribution and honest grading. Confirm the exact date and denomination rather than assuming, since many similar years and values exist, and judge condition by the sharpness of the crown and the legibility of the inscription. Avoid cleaning, which harms even inexpensive copper and leaves telltale bright, hairlined surfaces, and match all cues, crown, inscription, date, denomination, size, and copper fabric, before finalizing the identification.