Thursday, August 20, 2009

Norway Ore Bust

Do you have a coin from Norway and want to know its value? Leave a comment

Norway's coinage was affected uniquely by WWI and WWII.

The top coin you see is 1 Ore from 1919. Other 1 Ore coins from the same series were made of bronze this one is iron. Although Norway remained neutral during WWI they lost most of their mining operations and cargo ships trying to navigate in the war zone.

The entire 1 Ore series from 1908 to 1952 coins are not rare. The iron years from 1918 to 1921 actually have a higher mintage than normal. They do have an increased value because iron is a horrible metal for coins. It will rust under most conditions so finding these coins in un-rusted high grades is difficult.


Looking at the bottom two coins it would surprise most people to know they were made during the same time period. 1941 and 1945 10 Ores were issued using both of the design you see. The one with hole is a regular copper-nickel issue. The other is a German occupation issue done in zinc. Again like the iron coin zinc is highly unstable and finding them in high grades becomes difficult.


If all these coins were as fine as the copper-nickel holed coin they would fetch $10 to $15 for the set. Unfortunately we have oxygen in our atmosphere so that ruins everything, numismatically speaking.

Here's the stats from left the top row ...
Type/Country: 1 ore / Norway
Year: 1919
Mintage: 12,930,000
Metal: Iron
Value: $1.50 in Fine(the one pictured is less of course)
Weight: 2.00 grams

Type/Country: 10 ore / Norway
Year: 1941
Mintage: 10.150,000
Metal: Copper-nickel
Value: $0.30 in Fine
Weight: 1.50 grams

Type/Country: 10 ore-German Occupation/ Norway
Year: 1945
Mintage: 5,645,500
Metal: Zinc
Value: $4.00 in Fine(the one pictured is less of course)
Weight: 1.25 grams

I added the weight because these are among the lightest coins I ever held. Half the weight of a modern U.S. cent the final 10 ore listed can sit in your hand and you wouldn't feel it.

Do you have a Norwegian coin and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

29 dollars worth, for Comments/Questions click here.:

James (UK) said...

Liked that play on words for the title. I've found some of these Ores myself.

Man said...

They are so light they feel like play money don't they.

James (UK) said...

Yeah! Exactly! ;-)

Man said...

Thanks for the kind words.

Saoirse said...

I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.


Patricia

Lemonade714 said...

I have a 1941 5 ore coin; it appears in good shape; is there anything unique about this coin? thank you

Man said...

1941 5 ore coin; it appears in good shape; is there anything unique about this coin?

Assuming it's from Norway it is iron, it was from the German Occupation issue, and it's about $0.50.

Unknown said...

If I'm cataloging a 1941 5 ore coin for a small town museum, are there any specific terms I should be using? (ie: how would I describe the 'trinity' like symbols on the reverse side?)

Man said...

cataloging a 1941 5 ore coin for a small town museum, are there any specific terms I should be using?

I'm assuming this is from Norway and it is usually cataloged like this...
KM# 388 5 ORE
6.9400 g., Iron, 27 mm
Ruler: Haakon VII
Note: World War II
German occupation issue.
Obv: Crowned monogram within circle
Rev: Numeral and written value

OR

Obv:Crowned 7 between two pillars KONGERIKET NORGE 7
Rev:Three triangle of three triangles above left, above right, and below ORE, 5 ORE date

Anonymous said...

my norge ore coin was made in 1953 and i was wondering what it was worth.

Man said...

norge ore coin was made in 1953

About $0.10

Anonymous said...

i have a 5 ore norge coin from 1914 what isit worth

Man said...

5 ore norge coin from 1914 about $1.25

Anonymous said...

i have a dime with a gold ring around it from 1892

Man said...

dime with a gold ring around it from 1892


What country?
It sounds like it may have been in jewelery as a pendant.

Cory said...

I have a 10 ore coin from 1966 that has a bee on one side and a crown over a "V" inside of an "O" on the other side. I'm not at all a coin collector- I just picked it up (in a junk store) because it was so tiny and had such a nice bee on it. I want to give it to a friend who collects coins and just was wondering if you know what it's made of (it's light), what the V and O are for, and what's up with the bee. Thanks! -Cory

Man said...

10 ore coin from 1966 that has a bee on one side and a crown over a "V" inside of an "O" on the other side.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 10 ore / Norway
Year: 1966
Mintage: 16,610,000
Metal: Copper-Nickel
Value: $0.10 in Fine

O and V stand for Olav V or Olav the 5th a former king of Norway.

The Honey Bee is just a national symbol. Like the U.S. Bald Eagle.

Anonymous said...

I have little sacks of 2 ore, 5 ore, 25 ore and 50 ore. Is there any value to them not that I cannot use them when traveling to Norway?

Man said...

2 ore, 5 ore, 25 ore and 50 ore

Yes they have value depending on year but most of the modern types are just a few cents. Also if perfect and uncirculated they would have more value.

Anonymous said...

I have a 50 ore 1966 norge coin, is it worth anything?

Man said...

50 ore 1966 norge coin about $0.10

Anonymous said...

Not sure if the board is still acctive. I have a 1919 2 Ore, value?

Man said...

1919 2 Ore about $10.00 in fine

It's always active here.

Anonymous said...

I have a 5 ore from 1976. Is this worth anything?

Man said...

5 ore from 1976 about $0.05

Aika-tan said...

I have a 5 ore from 1953. Could you please tell me its value?

Man said...

5 ore from 1953 about $0.05

Anonymous said...

Found an 1876 2 ore in a flea market near my area. Any idea? Its marked f as a grade.

Man said...

1876 2 ore in a flea market near my area. Any idea? Its marked f as a grade.

About $3.50