Why do Danish coins have a hole in the middle?
A Danish coin tradition since 1924
Short answer
In Denmark the 1, 2 and 5-krone coins have a hole in the middle. Holes were first used in 1924 so people could tell the new coin series apart from older coins. They later disappeared, came back on the 25-øre coin in 1966 and stayed on the 1, 2 and 5 kroner of the 1989 series. The hole is 3.6 mm on the 1 krone, 4.7 mm on the 2 kroner and 5.5 mm on the 5 kroner.
Why
- Denmark is one of few countries with holed coins.
- The new Frederik X coins kept the hole.
- The 10 and 20 kroner have no hole.
Details
The new coins from December 2025 have the same sizes, shapes and materials as the series before.
Tip
The three holed coins are all cupronickel, so tell them apart by size: 20.25 mm for 1 krone, 24.5 mm for 2 kroner and 28.5 mm for 5 kroner.
What may differ
Coins made for collectors, such as commemorative coins, can look different from the circulation coins.
Common misconception
A coin with a hole is damaged or worth less.
What actually happens
The hole is part of the design of the 1, 2 and 5-krone coins.
People also ask
- Which coins are used in Denmark?
- Are old Danish coins still valid?
- What is the smallest Danish coin?
Sources
This answer is for reference only. Payment rules, limits and fees change, so check the official sources or your bank before you pay.
Practical infoRelated questions
-
What is the Danish Payments Council?
The Danish Payments Council is a forum for cooperation on retail payments in Denmark, set up by Danmarks Nationalbank in 2012.
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Can you pay by card in Denmark if the payment system goes down?
Often yes.
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When did Apple Pay and Google Pay come to Denmark?
Apple Pay was launched in Denmark in 2017, Google Pay in 2018 and Samsung Pay in 2022.
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How much of Danish card spending is online?
In 2025 e-commerce accounted for 30 % of total card turnover in Denmark, up from 22 % in 2019.