Economy Museum – Royal Coin Cabinet is currently undergoing renovation,
but is expected to reopen to the public in 2024.

The Ekonomiska museet – Kungliga myntkabinettet, also known as the Royal Coin Cabinet, is a museum located in Stockholm, Sweden. The museum is housed in the same premises as the Historical Museum and displays collections related to economic history, numismatics (the study of coins and currency), and the history of money and finance.

The museum showcases a wide range of artifacts including coins, banknotes, medals, and other items related to the history of money and its role in society. It provides insights into economic developments, monetary systems, and financial practices from ancient times to the present day.

The museum’s collections are curated by the Swedish National Historical Museums and offer visitors a unique perspective on the intersection of economics, culture, and society.

A Journey through the Royal Coin Cabinet’s Illustrious History

The Royal Coin Cabinet has a prehistory in the royal Swedish coin collections, where the oldest known ones date back to the 16th century. Around 1572, Johan III’s chancellor, Rasmus Ludvigsson, collected older Swedish coins as part of Sweden’s ongoing dispute with Denmark over the right to use three crowns in the national coat of arms.

In 1630, King Gustav II Adolf handed over older coins to the collection. During the Thirty Years’ War, a lot of coins and medals were taken as Swedish spoils and eventually ended up in the royal collection.

In 1727, the collection was merged with the collections that the Antiquities Archive had acquired over time by redeeming archaeological finds and making some other purchases. Shortly thereafter, the collection was named the Royal Coin Cabinet and placed under the care of the National Antiquarian. During the 18th century, the Coin Cabinet’s collection increased significantly through the acquisition of private collections.

In 1769, the collections were moved to the newly built Stockholm Palace.

In 1786, the Royal Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities (Vitterhetsakademien) was established and became the manager of the collection. During the years 1793-1816, the collections were under the Royal Museum. In connection with this, the title Garde des médailles (French for “medal keeper”) was introduced for the person responsible for the Royal Coin Cabinet.

From 1816, the Royal Coin Cabinet was again directly under the Royal Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities, according to the decision of May 8, 1816, and remained there until 1975. The title Garde des médailles accompanied the National Antiquarian in his role at the Coin Cabinet until the 20th century.

From 1844-1845, the Royal Coin Cabinet moved from the Royal Palace to the Ridderstolpe House at Skeppsbron, and an exhibition open to the public was inaugurated.

In 1975, the Royal Coin Cabinet became a museum with its own director within the authority of the National Heritage Board and the National Historical Museums, no longer under the Royal Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities. In 1998, the Royal Coin Cabinet became a museum within the authority of the National Historical Museums.