Royal Mint of Denmark
Denmark's state mint and legally authorized producer of Danish coinage, now operating under Danmarks Nationalbank while coin manufacture is outsourced.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The Royal Mint of Denmark, known in Danish as Den Kongelige Mønt, is Denmark's historic state mint. Coin production in Denmark has existed for roughly a millennium, although it was carried out at different locations and under different administrative arrangements before the Copenhagen mint associated with the Danish monarchy developed into a continuing national institution. The mint is therefore best understood as a state monetary institution rather than as a conventional consumer-facing commercial brand. The first known royal coin production in Copenhagen began under King Hans, reportedly in premises connected with his residence. In 1541, the mint moved to the grounds of the former St. Clare's Monastery, a site later commemorated by the street name Gammel Mønt, or Old Mint. Over subsequent centuries it moved repeatedly within Copenhagen, including to Bremerholm, Copenhagen Castle, Borgergade, Gammelholm and, from 1923, a purpose-built facility on Amager Boulevard. These relocations reflected changing royal, naval, civic and industrial requirements rather than a change in the mint's basic public function. The institution has produced Denmark's circulating coins and commemorative issues. Danish currency history represented in its output includes the rigsdaler introduced in 1625 and the krone, divided into 100 øre, adopted as Denmark's monetary unit in 1875. The mint has also made commemorative coins in precious metals, including gold and silver. A heart mark appearing on some Danish coins is associated with the historical minting tradition at Borgergade, although the precise original meaning of the mark has been debated. In 1975, the Danish government placed the Royal Mint under the control of Danmarks Nationalbank. The mint moved to Brøndby in 1978, and its offices later relocated to the central bank's Copenhagen premises in March 2012. The most significant modern operational change came in 2014, when Danmarks Nationalbank announced that it would stop producing coins and banknotes itself because demand for new cash had declined and external production was expected to reduce costs. This did not remove the bank's authority to issue Danish currency or its responsibility for designing coins and banknotes. Following a tender launched in 2015, the Mint of Finland was selected in 2016 to manufacture Danish coins. Production under the external arrangement began in 2017, and the initial four-year contract was renewed in 2020 through May 2025. The Royal Mint of Denmark consequently retains historical, legal and design significance while no longer functioning as the domestic factory for all Danish coin production. Its broader identity remains tied to the Danish state's authority over coinage, the continuity of Danish monetary symbols and the administration of currency by Danmarks Nationalbank.
History
Coin production in the Danish realm dates back approximately one thousand years. During the earliest centuries, coins were struck in several towns rather than at a single permanent national facility. King Hans is associated with the beginning of coin production in Copenhagen, apparently in or near premises connected with his residence. The surviving vaulted site at Vingårdstræde is now associated with the historic location, although the minting operation itself later moved. In 1541, the mint relocated to the grounds of the former St. Clare's Monastery. The monastery property had been confiscated after Denmark's Reformation, and the later street name Gammel Mønt preserves the memory of the mint's occupation. In 1575, the site was reassigned for religious use by a German congregation, prompting a move to Bremerholm, the royal naval dockyards. The mint returned to the former monastery grounds in 1593. Between 1614 and 1661, Copenhagen Castle was an important production site, although coinage was also made elsewhere. The Danish rigsdaler was introduced in 1625, marking an important change in the currency system. A further phase began when mint master Gotfred Krüger acquired property in Borgergade in 1671. Coin production continued in nearby premises until the property was sold in 1749. Historical coins associated with the Borgergade period sometimes bear a heart symbol. The mark has been linked either to the mint master's family or to the locality, with the latter interpretation supported by its appearance alongside the initials of mint master Caspar W. Windeck or related officials in surviving examples. In 1749, the mint moved to a site at Gammelholm near Nyhavn, in the royal mews behind Charlottenborg Palace. That complex was later demolished during the redevelopment of Gammelholm. A replacement building was completed in 1873 at the corner of Holbergsgade and Herluf Trolles Gade. The building was designed by Ferdinand Meldahl in collaboration with city architect Ludvig Fenger and remains part of Copenhagen's architectural history. Special coin production for use in Angmagssalik, Greenland, was carried out from 1894 by the private company Fritz Meyer rather than solely at the central mint. The mint moved again in 1923 to a purpose-built facility at Amager Boulevard 115, designed by Martin Borch. That building later ceased to serve as a mint and was converted to other uses. In 1975, the Danish government placed the Royal Mint under Danmarks Nationalbank. A new facility opened at Solmarksvej in Brøndby in 1978. In March 2012, the mint's offices moved to Danmarks Nationalbank's building on Havnegade in Copenhagen. The institution's role changed substantially in the twenty-first century. In October 2014, Danmarks Nationalbank announced that it would stop manufacturing coins and banknotes in-house. Falling demand for cash and anticipated savings were given as the principal reasons. The policy did not transfer the authority to issue Denmark's currency: Danmarks Nationalbank remained responsible for issuance and for the design of Danish coins and banknotes. A procurement process launched in December 2015 selected the Mint of Finland in May 2016 to manufacture Danish coins. Production began in 2017 under an initial four-year contract, which was renewed in 2020 through May 2025. The Royal Mint of Denmark thus continues as part of Denmark's monetary administration and historical identity, even though physical coin manufacture has been performed by an external specialist. Its output has included ordinary denominations of the Danish krone as well as commemorative gold and silver issues. The lowest circulating denomination identified in the reference material is the 50-øre coin, with other circulating denominations including 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 kroner.
- 2016
External coin manufacturer selected
[1]The Mint of Finland won the tender to manufacture Danish coins for Danmarks Nationalbank.
- 2012
Offices relocate to central bank headquarters
[1]The mint's offices moved to Danmarks Nationalbank's Copenhagen building on Havnegade.
- 1978
Move to Brøndby
[1]The mint moved its production operation to a facility on Solmarksvej in Brøndby.
- 1975
Placed under Danmarks Nationalbank
[1]The Danish government transferred the mint's administrative control to the central bank.
- 1923
Relocation to Amager Boulevard
[1]The mint moved into a new facility on Amager Boulevard designed by Martin Borch.
- 1873
New Gammelholm mint building completed
[1]A purpose-built mint structure was completed at the corner of Holbergsgade and Herluf Trolles Gade.
- 1625
Introduction of the Danish rigsdaler
[1]The rigsdaler became a new major unit in Denmark's currency history during a period when minting took place at several royal locations.
- 1541
Move to the former St. Clare's Monastery
[1]The Copenhagen mint moved to the grounds of the former monastery, a site later commemorated by the name Gammel Mønt.
Products and positioning
A state monetary institution preserving Denmark's coinage tradition and supporting the national currency system through Danmarks Nationalbank.
Currency
Danish circulating coins
The Royal Mint of Denmark has historically produced Denmark's circulating coinage. The modern Danish krone is divided into 100 øre. The circulating denominations identified in the reference material include 50 øre and 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 kroner; lower øre denominations were previously issued and later withdrawn. Since 2017, physical production has been outsourced to the Mint of Finland, while Danmarks Nationalbank retains issuance and design responsibilities.
Commemorative coinage
Danish commemorative coins
Commemorative issues form part of the mint's historic and continuing monetary role. The reference material specifically identifies commemorative coins made in gold and silver. These products extend the institution's work beyond everyday circulation and represent Danish historical, civic or national themes through specialized coin designs.
Brand decisions
2016
Select the Mint of Finland as coin producerOtherBackground
Danmarks Nationalbank conducted a competitive tender after deciding to outsource coin manufacturing.
Action taken
The bid from the Mint of Finland was selected as the most advantageous on the stated criteria of cost, security and quality.
Aftermath
Danish coin production moved to the external supplier from 2017, while the Danish central bank continued to control issuance and design.
2014
Outsource physical currency productionStrategyBackground
Danmarks Nationalbank reported declining demand for newly produced cash and forecast savings from ending in-house production of coins and banknotes.
Action taken
The central bank decided to cease its own manufacturing operations while retaining responsibility for currency issuance and design, then opened a tender for external coin production.
Aftermath
The Mint of Finland was selected in 2016, and production began in 2017. A renewal in 2020 extended the stated contract term through May 2025.
Recent events
Royal Mint develops solid-gold payment card[2]
Reported:
The Royal Mint developed an 18-karat gold payment card, priced at £18,750, with access to its Raris premium account service. The article reports that the company was preparing to launch the card.
Royal Mint partners with Mastercard and Accomplish Financial on payment card[2]
Reported:
The Royal Mint partnered with Mastercard and payments technology firm Accomplish Financial to create its gold payment card.
Sources2 sources
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