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<p>[QUOTE="Jimski, post: 2761717, member: 77373"]Coins were struck in London during WW2 for the British occupied Danish possessions of Faroe Islands and Iceland.</p><p><br /></p><p>Although Iceland and the Faroe Islands were never part of the British Empire, these coins are illustrative of an interesting and important chapter in British history, and are including here for this reason. All the coins illustrated are from my collection.</p><p><br /></p><p>Early in WW2, on 9 April 1940, Germany invaded neutral Denmark and began an occupation of Denmark that would last until 1945. Britain feared that Germany would establish bases on Iceland and the Faroe Islands, which were both possessions of Denmark. On 12 April 1940 the British peacefully established an occupation force on the Faroe Islands. Later, on 10 May 1940, Britain would invade and occupy Iceland after unsuccessfully trying to convince Iceland to give up its neutrality and align with the Allies. The invasion was non-violent, and Iceland protested the action, to no avail.</p><p><br /></p><p>During the occupations of the Faroe Islands and Iceland, Britain struck coins for both at the London Mint.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>I suspect that the work load involved in striking the issues for the Faroes (5 denominations in 1941 and 1942) and Iceland coinages (5 denominations in 1942), explain why the WW2 minting of coinage for the British territories of Australia and Fiji were transferred to the US Mint starting in 1942.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Faroe Islands</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Faroe Islands coinage minted in London.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>The Faroe Islands did not have a unique coinage, Danish coinage circulated there. Below is a “Danish like” 5 ore minted in London for the Faroe Islands.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]634852[/ATTACH]</p><p>In 1941 and 1942 (using 1941 dies) 1, all denominations of minor coins for the Faroe Islands were struck in London. This coinage faithfully reproduced the Danish coinage that was in circulation up to 1941. These coins were struck in the same bronze or copper-nickel compositions of the previous Danish coinage. The London Coins do not include mint marks or initials though.</p><p><br /></p><p>Footnote 1: From NGC <a href="https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/faeroe-islands-5-%C3%B8re-km-3-1941-cuid-1202117-duid-1267869" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/faeroe-islands-5-%C3%B8re-km-3-1941-cuid-1202117-duid-1267869" rel="nofollow">https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/faeroe-islands-5-øre-km-3-1941-cuid-1202117-duid-1267869</a></p><p><br /></p><p>In an interesting contrast, the German occupied Denmark minor coinage of 1941 introduced new compositions of Aluminum or zinc instead of bronze or copper-nickel, no doubt to conserve copper and nickel for war materials. The 1941 coinage eliminated the holes that were used on previous coins. Probably for efficiency, because the holed designs did not return in liberated Denmark after the war.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]634853[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>History of the British occupation of the Faroe Islands </b></p><p><br /></p><p>Excerpts from Wikipedia in italics {my additions in curly brackets}:</p><p><br /></p><p>- <i>During the Second World War Denmark was invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany. The British subsequently made a pre-emptive (but friendly) invasion and occupation of the <b>Faroes </b>to prevent a German invasion. </i></p><p><br /></p><p>- <i>At the time of the occupation, the <b>Faroe Islands</b> had the status of an amt (county) of Denmark.</i></p><p><br /></p><p>- <i>During the occupation </i>{Faroe Islands}<i> wasgiven full legislative powers.</i></p><p><br /></p><p>- <i>Following the liberation of Denmark and the end of World War II, the last British troops left in September 1945. </i>{and the Faroe Islands status as a amt (county) of Denmark continued}</p><p><br /></p><p>- <i>The experience of wartime self-government did, however, mean that a return to the pre-war status of an amt (county) was unrealistic and unpopular. A referendum on independence was held in 1946; subsequently formal autonomy was established in 1948 </i></p><p><br /></p><p>- <i>The Faroe Islands </i>{are today} <i>a self-ruling dependency of Denmark.</i></p><p><i>[ATTACH=full]634854[/ATTACH] </i></p><p>Faroe Islands in red on map.</p><p>Iceland</p><p>[ATTACH=full]634855[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Icelandic coinage minted in London. From </b><a href="http://www.coinfactswiki.com/wiki/Iceland_1940_5_aurar" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.coinfactswiki.com/wiki/Iceland_1940_5_aurar" rel="nofollow"><b>http://www.coinfactswiki.com/wiki/Iceland_1940_5_aurar</b></a></p><p><br /></p><p>{Coins were} <i>struck for Iceland in 1940 </i>{and}<i> 42 at the London mint. Previous issues were struck at the Copenhagen mint 1926-39 and bear the heart mintmark. In 1940, as Nazi troops occupied Denmark, British troops occupied Iceland. </i></p><p><br /></p><p>As with the Faroe Islands coins struck in London, the designs were faithfully reproduced, and mint marks and initials were not included. The compositions of bronze or copper-nickel were maintained in 1940, but former copper-nickel coins were struck in zinc in 1942. Designs were maintained in the 1942 zinc coinage, and well as all others.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>History of the British occupation of the Iceland </b></p><p><br /></p><p>Excerpts from Wikipedia in italics {my additions in curly brackets}:</p><p><br /></p><p>- <i>The invasion of Iceland was a British military operation conducted by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines during World War II to occupy and deny Iceland to Germany. At the start of the war, Britain imposed strict export controls on Icelandic goods, preventing profitable shipments to Germany, as part of its naval blockade. Britain offered assistance to Iceland, seeking cooperation "as a belligerent and an ally", but Reykjavik </i>{the Capital of Iceland, hence the government} <i>declined and reaffirmed its neutrality. The German diplomatic presence in Iceland, along with the island's strategic importance, alarmed the British. After failing to persuade the Icelandic government to join the Allies, the British invaded on the morning of 10 May 1940. … Meeting no resistance, the troops moved quickly to disable communication networks, secure strategic locations, and arrest German citizens. </i></p><p><br /></p><p>- <i>The government of Iceland issued a protest, charging that its neutrality had been "flagrantly violated" and "its independence infringed”, noting that compensation would be expected for all damage done. The British promised compensation, favorable business agreements, non-interference in Icelandic affairs, and the withdrawal of all forces at the end of the war.</i></p><p><br /></p><p>- <i>Resigning themselves to the situation, the Icelandic authorities provided the invasion force with de facto cooperation, though formally maintaining a policy of neutrality.</i></p><p><br /></p><p>Later Canadian forces would replace the British, still later US forces would replace the Canadians.</p><p><br /></p><p>- At the start of WWII Iceland was a fully sovereign state in a personal union {two states that are independent but have the same monarch} with Denmark. In 1944 Iceland voted to terminate the Union and established a republic.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Greenland</p><p><br /></p><p>The British did not occupy Greenland. … Here’s why.</p><p><br /></p><p>From <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland_in_World_War_II#Greenland_enters_the_war" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland_in_World_War_II#Greenland_enters_the_war" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland_in_World_War_II#Greenland_enters_the_war</a></p><p><br /></p><p>- <i>Before the war, Greenland was a tightly controlled colony of Denmark, otherwise closed off to the world.</i></p><p><br /></p><p>- {After the German occupation of Denmark}<b> <i>Britain </i></b><i>and Canada initially laid plans to occupy points of interest on the island, but the United States, still neutral, firmly rejected "third party" intervention there. </i></p><p><br /></p><p>- <i>On 9 April 1941, the anniversary of the German occupation</i>{of Denmark}<i>, the Danish envoy Kauffmann, against the instructions of his government, signed an executive agreement with Secretary of State Cordell Hull, allowing the presence of American troops and making Greenland a de facto U.S. protectorate.</i></p><p><br /></p><p>- <i>On 5 May 1945, Greenlanders celebrated the liberation of Denmark in Nuuk. The Greenland Administration under Eske Brun surrendered its emergency powers and again came under direct control from Copenhagen. Kauffmann returned to Copenhagen, where treason charges against him were dropped, and the Danish parliament ratified his agreement with the United States. The United States presence continued in decreasing numbers until the Kauffmann-Hull agreement was replaced by a new base treaty in 1951. The successful experience of an independent Greenland led to a dramatic restructuring and modernization of Danish policy with respect to the colony</i></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland</a></p><p><br /></p><p>- {Today, Greenland}<i> is an autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark</i>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Jimski, post: 2761717, member: 77373"]Coins were struck in London during WW2 for the British occupied Danish possessions of Faroe Islands and Iceland. Although Iceland and the Faroe Islands were never part of the British Empire, these coins are illustrative of an interesting and important chapter in British history, and are including here for this reason. All the coins illustrated are from my collection. Early in WW2, on 9 April 1940, Germany invaded neutral Denmark and began an occupation of Denmark that would last until 1945. Britain feared that Germany would establish bases on Iceland and the Faroe Islands, which were both possessions of Denmark. On 12 April 1940 the British peacefully established an occupation force on the Faroe Islands. Later, on 10 May 1940, Britain would invade and occupy Iceland after unsuccessfully trying to convince Iceland to give up its neutrality and align with the Allies. The invasion was non-violent, and Iceland protested the action, to no avail. During the occupations of the Faroe Islands and Iceland, Britain struck coins for both at the London Mint. [B]I suspect that the work load involved in striking the issues for the Faroes (5 denominations in 1941 and 1942) and Iceland coinages (5 denominations in 1942), explain why the WW2 minting of coinage for the British territories of Australia and Fiji were transferred to the US Mint starting in 1942.[/B] Faroe Islands [B]Faroe Islands coinage minted in London.[/B] The Faroe Islands did not have a unique coinage, Danish coinage circulated there. Below is a “Danish like” 5 ore minted in London for the Faroe Islands. [ATTACH=full]634852[/ATTACH] In 1941 and 1942 (using 1941 dies) 1, all denominations of minor coins for the Faroe Islands were struck in London. This coinage faithfully reproduced the Danish coinage that was in circulation up to 1941. These coins were struck in the same bronze or copper-nickel compositions of the previous Danish coinage. The London Coins do not include mint marks or initials though. Footnote 1: From NGC [URL='https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/faeroe-islands-5-%C3%B8re-km-3-1941-cuid-1202117-duid-1267869']https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/faeroe-islands-5-øre-km-3-1941-cuid-1202117-duid-1267869[/URL] In an interesting contrast, the German occupied Denmark minor coinage of 1941 introduced new compositions of Aluminum or zinc instead of bronze or copper-nickel, no doubt to conserve copper and nickel for war materials. The 1941 coinage eliminated the holes that were used on previous coins. Probably for efficiency, because the holed designs did not return in liberated Denmark after the war. [ATTACH=full]634853[/ATTACH] [B]History of the British occupation of the Faroe Islands [/B] Excerpts from Wikipedia in italics {my additions in curly brackets}: - [I]During the Second World War Denmark was invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany. The British subsequently made a pre-emptive (but friendly) invasion and occupation of the [B]Faroes [/B]to prevent a German invasion. [/I] - [I]At the time of the occupation, the [B]Faroe Islands[/B] had the status of an amt (county) of Denmark.[/I] - [I]During the occupation [/I]{Faroe Islands}[I] wasgiven full legislative powers.[/I] - [I]Following the liberation of Denmark and the end of World War II, the last British troops left in September 1945. [/I]{and the Faroe Islands status as a amt (county) of Denmark continued} - [I]The experience of wartime self-government did, however, mean that a return to the pre-war status of an amt (county) was unrealistic and unpopular. A referendum on independence was held in 1946; subsequently formal autonomy was established in 1948 [/I] - [I]The Faroe Islands [/I]{are today} [I]a self-ruling dependency of Denmark. [ATTACH=full]634854[/ATTACH] [/I] Faroe Islands in red on map. Iceland [ATTACH=full]634855[/ATTACH] [B]Icelandic coinage minted in London. From [/B][URL='http://www.coinfactswiki.com/wiki/Iceland_1940_5_aurar'][B]http://www.coinfactswiki.com/wiki/Iceland_1940_5_aurar[/B][/URL] {Coins were} [I]struck for Iceland in 1940 [/I]{and}[I] 42 at the London mint. Previous issues were struck at the Copenhagen mint 1926-39 and bear the heart mintmark. In 1940, as Nazi troops occupied Denmark, British troops occupied Iceland. [/I] As with the Faroe Islands coins struck in London, the designs were faithfully reproduced, and mint marks and initials were not included. The compositions of bronze or copper-nickel were maintained in 1940, but former copper-nickel coins were struck in zinc in 1942. Designs were maintained in the 1942 zinc coinage, and well as all others. [B]History of the British occupation of the Iceland [/B] Excerpts from Wikipedia in italics {my additions in curly brackets}: - [I]The invasion of Iceland was a British military operation conducted by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines during World War II to occupy and deny Iceland to Germany. At the start of the war, Britain imposed strict export controls on Icelandic goods, preventing profitable shipments to Germany, as part of its naval blockade. Britain offered assistance to Iceland, seeking cooperation "as a belligerent and an ally", but Reykjavik [/I]{the Capital of Iceland, hence the government} [I]declined and reaffirmed its neutrality. The German diplomatic presence in Iceland, along with the island's strategic importance, alarmed the British. After failing to persuade the Icelandic government to join the Allies, the British invaded on the morning of 10 May 1940. … Meeting no resistance, the troops moved quickly to disable communication networks, secure strategic locations, and arrest German citizens. [/I] - [I]The government of Iceland issued a protest, charging that its neutrality had been "flagrantly violated" and "its independence infringed”, noting that compensation would be expected for all damage done. The British promised compensation, favorable business agreements, non-interference in Icelandic affairs, and the withdrawal of all forces at the end of the war.[/I] - [I]Resigning themselves to the situation, the Icelandic authorities provided the invasion force with de facto cooperation, though formally maintaining a policy of neutrality.[/I] Later Canadian forces would replace the British, still later US forces would replace the Canadians. - At the start of WWII Iceland was a fully sovereign state in a personal union {two states that are independent but have the same monarch} with Denmark. In 1944 Iceland voted to terminate the Union and established a republic. Greenland The British did not occupy Greenland. … Here’s why. From [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland_in_World_War_II#Greenland_enters_the_war[/url] - [I]Before the war, Greenland was a tightly controlled colony of Denmark, otherwise closed off to the world.[/I] - {After the German occupation of Denmark}[B] [I]Britain [/I][/B][I]and Canada initially laid plans to occupy points of interest on the island, but the United States, still neutral, firmly rejected "third party" intervention there. [/I] - [I]On 9 April 1941, the anniversary of the German occupation[/I]{of Denmark}[I], the Danish envoy Kauffmann, against the instructions of his government, signed an executive agreement with Secretary of State Cordell Hull, allowing the presence of American troops and making Greenland a de facto U.S. protectorate.[/I] - [I]On 5 May 1945, Greenlanders celebrated the liberation of Denmark in Nuuk. The Greenland Administration under Eske Brun surrendered its emergency powers and again came under direct control from Copenhagen. Kauffmann returned to Copenhagen, where treason charges against him were dropped, and the Danish parliament ratified his agreement with the United States. The United States presence continued in decreasing numbers until the Kauffmann-Hull agreement was replaced by a new base treaty in 1951. The successful experience of an independent Greenland led to a dramatic restructuring and modernization of Danish policy with respect to the colony[/I] [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland[/url] - {Today, Greenland}[I] is an autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark[/I][/QUOTE]
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