STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Three national treasures of Sweden — two crowns and an orb made for the funerals of King Charles IX and his wife, Christina the Elder, in the 17th century — have been stolen in an audacious midday theft from a cathedral near Stockholm.

The two thieves smashed a showcase at the cathedral in Strangnas, a town on Lake Malar, on Tuesday, according to its dean, the Rev. Christofer Lundgren. However, the criminals might be disappointed with their haul, because the crowns and orb were meant for burial purposes and have a relatively low intrinsic value, despite being made of gold.

“The stones applied to these crowns are not diamonds, they are rock crystals and pearls,” Mr. Lundgren said. “The worst thing that could happen is that these thieves do not fully understand what these objects are and their value and the importance of them. And that they would be melted.”

“If they would show up at any auction house in Europe, I’m sure they would be recognized,” he added. “These are not things that you can sell or show in Sweden or even Europe. They are well known. They are well documented.”