Lot #603: Rare Iceland 1942 One Eyrir Coin - "Island" - (WWII Bronze Issue) - Monogram of King Christian X ("CX")

Obverse: Features the Monogram of King Christian X (a stylized "CX" with the numeral "10" within the "C"), topped by a royal crown. At the time, Iceland was in a personal union with Denmark, sharing the same monarch. The inscription ÍSLAND is at the top, and the date 1942 is at the bottom. Reverse: Features the denomination 1 EYRIR in a bold, clean font. The numeral and text are flanked by two Art Deco-style floral ornaments that are characteristic of Icelandic coinage from this era. The 1942 Iceland 1 Eyrir is a fascinating wartime issue that marks a period of significant geopolitical and numismatic transition. While many European nations were forced into using base metals like zinc or iron during World War II, Iceland—under British and later American protection—maintained high-quality bronze production for its smallest denomination in 1942 before eventually shifting materials. 1942 is a "crossover" year for this denomination. Due to the difficulty of sourcing copper during the war, the Royal Danish Mint (and later the British Royal Mint, which produced many Icelandic coins during the occupation) began transitioning to zinc. This Bronze version is much more desirable than the dark, dull zinc version, as it represents the last of the "high-luster" small change before the total shift to wartime utility metals. Dimensions: Bronze. 15 mm. 1.6 g. Pickup category timeslot {A}