Mønt

Mønt is the Danish term for a coin, a metal disc issued by a state or monetary authority as part of a country's currency. The word is used for the physical pieces of money that carry a nominal value and are intended for everyday transactions. Cognate terms exist in other Scandinavian languages, such as Swedish mynt and Norwegian mynt or mønt in some dialects.

A mønt is typically made of metal, often an alloy, and is minted by a government mint or authorized contractor. Each coin bears its face value, year of issue, and imagery chosen to reflect national identity, such as portraits, coats of arms, or landmarks, as well as security features to deter counterfeiting. The legal tender status, subunit value, and any limits on denomination use are defined by law.

Historically, coins have been minted since ancient times to facilitate trade and accounting. They standardized weight and value, enabling efficient taxes and commerce. Over centuries, mints emerged to produce coins in many monarchies, republics, and cities. In the modern era many countries have decimalized their currencies, issuing coins for units below one main unit and retiring or reducing low-denomination pieces as metal prices change or cash habits shift.

Today, coins complement banknotes as the smallest everyday units of currency. They are collected as numismatic items and can hold metallic value above their face value in some circumstances, though this depends on metal markets. The production and distribution of mønter remain a core function of national monetary authorities.