A strange fact about each country day 13 🇸🇪

Day 13

🇸🇪Sweden🇸🇪

Sweden’s central bank, Sveriges Riksbank, holds the record as the world’s oldest central bank [Sveriges Riksbank, History of Riksbank]. It houses a unique historical artifact: the largest copper coin ever minted, produced in 1644 and weighing nearly 20 kilograms [Royal Coin Cabinet of Sweden, Daler Plate Money Collection].

The massive size stemmed from Sweden’s monetary policy at the time, which pegged currency to intrinsic metal values [Hackscher, An Economic History of Sweden, Harvard University Press, 1954]. Because copper was worth significantly less than silver, the state had to issue huge, heavy plates of metal to match standard transactional values. Consequently, citizens often had to use horse-drawn carts just to haul enough cash for daily purchases [World Mint Museum, Plate Money History]

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