Lars Emil Bruun

Lars Emil Bruun (29 March 1852 – 21 November 1923) was a Danish merchant and numismatist. He established a company in 1883 that specialized in the packing and wholesaling of butter. His collection of coins and medals, valued at 500 million Danish kroner, or 73 million USD, was kept at the National Museum of Denmark for a century, but was, in accordance with his will, sold at auction 100 years after his death, in 2024.

Early life and education Bruun was born in Ulvemose Huse, in the parish of Havdrup, in 1852. He apprenticed as a merchant in Holbæk from 1867 and later studied at Grüner's business academy before working for several large enterprises.

Business career In 1883, Bruun established his own company which was involved in the packing and wholesaling of butter. The company grew fast and completed acquisitions of several competing companies. It was initially deposited at the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle, but was transferred to Nationalbanken (the central bank of Denmark) in Copenhagen.

Sale of the collection Ahead of the sale the National Museum of Denmark exercised a right of first refusal that dated from Bruun's 1922 purchase of the Bille-Brahe collection, acquiring seven Dano-Norwegian coins struck between 1591 and the late 17th century. The purchase, of six gold coins and one silver coin, was paid for with a donation of 7.7 million kroner from the society Den kgl. Mønt- og Medaillesamlings Venner.

The collection, insured for 500 million Danish kroner (about US$72.5 million), was consigned to the American auction house Stack's Bowers Galleries, which began dispersing it in a series of sales in 2024.