A fyrk was a monetary unit used in Sweden in the 15th to 17th century, with a value of between 1/6 and 1/2 öre. The word is derived from Middle Low German vereken (vierichen) and ultimately from ver or vier, a monetary unit (from vier, "four"). After the monetary unit had been abolished, the word remained in use in the general sense of "small money", "pennies", "an insignificant sum"; and as a slang word for "money" in Finland Swedish, from where it is borrowed in Finnish slang (as fyrkka).

Copper fyrk from Arboga (1627)
Copper fyrk from Arboga (1627)

With the Swedish municipal reforms of 1862, the unit fyrk was re-used as a unit for counting voting rights in the municipal election. Voting rights were graded according to income and assets, counted in fyrks and recorded in the fyrktalslängd, the "fyrk counting list" for each municipality. It was in use from 1863 to 1909. The vägfyrk or "road fyrk", a unit for road tax, remained in use until 1937.

Up until 17th century fyrks were minted from silver; later the copper was used as the value of the coin suffered continuous inflation.

References


🔥 Top keywords: Main PageShannen DohertySpecial:SearchCarlos AlcarazList of United States presidential assassination attempts and plotsAttempted assassination of Donald TrumpDonald TrumpRichard Simmons2024 shooting at a Donald Trump rallyLamine YamalNovak DjokovicNico WilliamsUEFA European ChampionshipWikipedia:Featured picturesThomas Matthew CrooksProject 2025Attempted assassination of Ronald ReaganUEFA Euro 2024Jacoby JonesAR-15–style rifleMukesh AmbaniLonglegsSpain national football teamKimberly CheatleKalki 2898 ADList of Wimbledon gentlemen's singles championsCole PalmerGareth SouthgateJohn Hinckley Jr.Harry KaneLuke PerryAntifa (United States)United States Secret Service.xxxDeaths in 2024Ruth WestheimerEvan VucciButler, PennsylvaniaIndian 2