During the early 17th Century, Sweden was rich in copper wealth, producing as much as two-thirds of Europe's copper needs.

In 1644, Sweden started using copper plate money. A 40 pound copper plate was the equivalent of ten dalars worth of silver. The shortcomings of this system are obvious though. The heavy plates were bulky and inconvenient. They were replaced by "certificates" that were exchangeable for an equivalent copper value. The certificates were never considered legal tender in Sweden, but they led to the creation of the first European bank notes.