Danish coins
50-øre coin
The 50-øre coin was put into circulation on 3 July 1989.
The obverse of the coin shows the crown of King Christian V, which has been the Danish royal crown since 1671. The royal crown is the most important symbol of the power of the monarch and the state. The year of minting is seen at the top of the coin. On the reverse, the face value of the coin is seen. The mint mark is a heart, which is the mint mark of the Royal Danish Mint in Copenhagen.
Technical specifications
Alloy: Tin bronze
Diameter: 21.5 mm
Weight: 4.3 grams
Rim: Smooth
1-krone coin
The 1-krone coin was put into circulation on 26 January 1993.
The obverse of the coin shows the Queen’s monogram interlinked by three crowns. The reproduction of the monogram deviates from the customary depiction, which is not unusual on coins where the hole at the centre poses a particular challenge. The three-crowns design is deeply rooted in Danish coin tradition.
The reverse features ornamentation inspired by archaeological finds. The mint mark is a heart, which is the mint mark of the Royal Danish Mint in Copenhagen.
Technical specifications
Alloy: Copper nickel
Diameter: 20.25 mm
Weight: 3.6 grams
Rim: Milled
2-krone coin
The 2-krone coin was put into circulation on 26 January 1993.
The obverse of the coin shows the Queen’s monogram interlinked by three crowns. The design is identical to that of the 1-krone coin. Like the 1-krone coin, the reverse of the 2-krone coin features ornamentation inspired by archaeological finds.
Technical specifications
5-krone coin
The 5-krone coin was put into circulation on 10 April 1990.
The obverse of the coin shows the Queen’s monogram interlinked by three crowns. The design is identical to that of the 1-krone and 2-krone coins. The reverse is also identical to that of the 1-krone and 2-krone coins.
Technical specifications
Alloy: Copper nickel
Diameter: 28.5 mm
Weight: 9.2 grams
Rim: Milled
10-krone coin
The 10-krone coin is made of aluminium bronze and was put into circulation in 1989. Since then, the motif on the reverse has been redesigned several times, but since 2013 the 10-krone coin has been issued in an updated version of the original design from 1989 on the reverse. In May 2023, 10-krone coins with a new portrait of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe on the obverse was put into circulation. The coins will not replace, but enter into circulation together with the current coins. The coins are introduced in line with demand.
The dominant ornamentation of 10-krone coin is a portrait of the sovereign, which is in keeping with tradition for the highest denominations of Danish coins. The portrait is created by sculptor Eva Hjorth, who wanted the portrait to reflect the Queen's experience, authority and age. The portrait is designed in accordance with the classical coinage tradition.
The reverse of the 10-krone coin shows three lions and nine hearts framed by a circle with a crown at the top. On either side of the crown is ornamentation. The coat of arms with three crowned lions has been used by Danish kings for the past 800 years. In the 1500s, it was decided that the number of hearts should be nine.
The portrait is changed from time to time to ensure a contemporary portrait which is as close a likeness as possible. Four other portraits of Queen Margrethe have previously been used for the coin series currently in circulation, created by:
Sculptress Hanne Varming (put into circulation in the period 1990-1993)
Medallist Jan Petersen (put into circulation in the period 1994-1999)
Sculptor and professor Mogens Møller (put into circulation in the period 2001-2010)
Sculptor Lis Nogel (put into circulation in the period 2011-2022)
Technical specifications
Alloy: Aluminium bronze
Diameter: 23.35 mm
Weight: 7.0 grams
Rim: Smooth
20-krone coin
The 20-krone coin with modified obverse and reverse designs was put into circulation in January 2011, while the 20-krone coin itself was first released in 1990. In May 2023, 20-krone coins with a new portrait of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe on the obverse was put into circulation. The coins will not replace, but enter into circulation together with the current coins. The coins are introduced in line with demand.
The dominant ornamentation of the 20-krone coin is a portrait of the sovereign, which is in keeping with tradition for the highest denominations of Danish coins. The portrait is created by sculptor Eva Hjorth, who wanted the portrait to reflect the Queen’s experience, authority and age. The portrait is designed in accordance with the classical coinage tradition.
The reverse of the 20-krone coin shows three lions and nine hearts framed by a circle with a crown at the top. On either side of the crown is ornamentation. The coat of arms with three crowned lions has been used by Danish kings for the past 800 years. In the 1500s, it was decided that the number of hearts should be nine.
The portrait is changed from time to time to ensure a contemporary portrait which is as close a likeness as possible. Three other portraits of Queen Margrethe have previously been used for the coin series currently in circulation, created by:
Sculptress Hanne Varming (put into circulation in the period 1990-1993)
Medallist Jan Petersen (put into circulation in the period 1994-1999)
Sculptor and professor Mogens Møller (put into circulation in the period 2001-2010)
Sculptor Lis Nogel (put into circulation in the period 2011-2022)
Technical specifications
Alloy: Aluminium bronze
Diameter: 27.0 mm
Weight: 9.3 grams
Rim: Interrupted milled
Danish banknotes
50-krone banknote
The 50-krone banknote was issued in 2009 and features the Sallingsund Bridge and the Skarpsalling Pot as motifs. The Sallingsund Bridge connects the Salling peninsula with the island of Mors in Limfjorden. The bridge was inaugurated in 1978.
The Skarpsalling Pot is a clay vessel from Skarpsalling in Himmerland (Jutland), which was found in a stone burial chamber in 1891. The pot dates back to around 3200 BC and the construction of dolmen burial chambers and is one of the finest examples of ceramic design and decoration known from the Stone Age in Denmark.
100-krone banknote
The 100-krone banknote was issued in 2010 and features the Old Little Belt Bridge and the Hindsgavl Dagger as motifs.
The Old Little Belt Bridge connects Jutland with the island of Funen and was inaugurated in 1935.
The Hindsgavl Dagger was found around 1867 on the island of Fænø in the Little Belt just off the Hindsgavl peninsula. It is from the Stone Age, more specifically the late Dagger Period (1900-1700 BC). The Hindsgavl Dagger is the finest example of the flint-working technique of the Dagger Period.
From February 2024 onwards, a new version of the 100-krone banknote will be put into circulation. The new version (2009A series, top) is very similar to its predecessor (2009 series, bottom), which is still valid, but has a number of new security features. Read more about the security upgrade of banknotes
200-krone banknote
The 200-krone banknote was issued in 2010 and features Knippelsbro bridge and a belt plate from Langstrup as motifs.
Knippelsbro links Slotsholmen, the seat of the Danish Parliament, and Christianshavn in Copenhagen. The first bridge on this site was built by King Christian IV in 1618-1620, whereas the present bridge, number five, was built in 1937.
The belt plate from Langstrup was found in the period before 1880, in a bog in northern Zealand. It is the largest, fully preserved belt plate known from the Early Bronze Age, c. 1400 BC. It is decorated with circular lines and spirals. Such belt plates were worn by women as a sign of high status.
From February 2024 onwards, a new version of the 200-krone banknote will be put into circulation. The new version (2009A series, top) is very similar to its predecessor (2009 series, bottom), which is still valid, but has a number of new security features. Read more about the security upgrade of banknotes
500-krone banknote
The 500-krone banknote was issued in 2011 and features the bridge Dronning Alexandrines Bro and the Bronze Bucket from Keldby as motifs.
Dronning Alexandrines Bro was inaugurated in 1943. The bridge spans the sound of Ulvsund, connecting Kalvehave on southern Zealand with the island of Møn. The bridge is also known as ‘Mønbroen’.
The Bronze Bucket from Keldby was unearthed during ploughing near ‘Trehøje’ on Møn in the period before 1826. The bucket was manufactured around 300 BC and seems to be clearly inspired by similar Greek models, which means that it may have been made in Macedonia or in the Greek Black Sea colonies.
From November 2020 onwards, a new version of the 500-krone banknote was put into circulation. The new version is very similar to the previous one, which is still valid, but it has a number of new security features. Read more about banknote security features.
1000-krone banknote
The 1000-krone banknote was issued in 2011 and features the Great Belt Bridge and the Sun Chariot as motifs.
The Great Belt Bridge, which consists of an East section and a West section, was inaugurated in 1998. The East section connects the island of Sprogø with Zealand. The Eastern Channel of the Great Belt, which is spanned by the suspension bridge, is international waters. At 254 metres, the pylons are among the highest points in Denmark.
The Sun Chariot was found in 1902 in the bog Trundholm Mose on western Zealand. It was made in the Early Bronze Age, c. 1400 BC and illustrates the idea that the sun is being pulled across the sky by a divine horse. The chariot is not intrinsic to this belief system. The sun image and the horse are placed on wheels to symbolise the motion of the sun.
The 1000-krone banknote will not be valid as a means of payment after 31 May 2025. The same applies to banknotes from all banknote series older than the current series. Read more about the future of Danish cash.