Icelandic króna
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| Icelandic króna íslensk króna (Icelandic) |
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| ISO 4217 Code | ISK | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| User(s) |  Iceland |
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| Inflation | 12.3% | ||
| Source | Central Bank of Iceland, June 3. 2008 | ||
| Subunit | |||
| 1/100 | eyrir (obsolete) | ||
| Symbol | kr, Íkr | ||
| Plural | krónur | ||
| eyrir (obsolete) | aurar | ||
| Coins | 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 krónur | ||
| Banknotes | |||
| Freq. used | 500, 1000, 5000 krónur | ||
| Rarely used | 2000 krónur | ||
| Central bank | Central Bank of Iceland | ||
| Website | www.sedlabanki.is | ||
The króna (plural krónur) is the currency of Iceland. The name, meaning "crown", is related to that of other Nordic currencies (such as the Swedish krona and Norwegian krone). It is subdivided into 100 aurar (singular eyrir [1]). The ISO 4217 currency code is ISK.
Contents |
[edit] First króna, 1874–1981
The Danish krone was introduced to Iceland in 1874, replacing the earlier Danish currency, the rigsdaler. In 1885, Iceland began issuing its own banknotes.
The Icelandic króna separated from the Danish krone after the dissolution of the Scandinavian Monetary Union at the start of World War I and Icelandic autonomy from Denmark in 1918. The first coins were issued in 1922.
[edit] Coins
Iceland's first coins were 10 and 25 aurar pieces introduced in 1922. These were followed in 1925 by denominations 1 and 2 krónur and in 1926 by denominations of 1 eyrir, and 2 and 5 aurar. In 1946, the coin's designs were altered to remove the royal monogram (CXR), following Icelandic independence from Denmark in 1944, when Denmark (but not Iceland) was occupied by Nazi Germany.
Starting in 1967, new coins were introduced due to a considerable fall in the value of the króna. 10 króna coins were introduced in that year, followed by 50 aurar and 5 króna pieces in 1969 and 50 krónur in 1970.
[edit] Banknotes
The first notes issued in 1885 by the Lansssjod Islands were in denominations of 5, 10 and 50 krónur. In 1904, the Bank of Iceland (Íslands Banki) took over note production and introduced 100 króna notes. In 1921, the Rikissjod Islands began issuing paper money, with notes for 1, 5, 10 and 50 krónur.
In 1929, another bank, the Landsbanki Íslands took over issuance of denominations of 5 krónur and above, with the Rikissjod Islands continuing to issue 1 króna notes until 1947. The Landsbanki Íslands introduced 500 króna notes in 1935, followed by 25 and 1000 króna notes in 1957.
In 1961, the Seðlabanki Íslands became the central bank of Iceland and started issuing paper money, in denominations of 10, 25, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 krónur.
[edit] Second króna, 1981–
In 1981, the Icelandic króna was revalued, with 100 aurar krónur (ISJ) being worth 1 new króna (ISK).
Technically, the króna is still composed of 100 aurar, although, in practice, coins less than one króna have not circulated for many years. In September 2002, Davíð Oddsson, the Icelandic Prime Minister at the time, signed two regulations decreeing that all monetary amounts on invoices and financial claims should be stated and paid in whole krónur only and that coins with a value of less than one króna should be withdrawn from circulation.
The overall level of technological sophistication is noteworthy in Iceland. Iceland has, for example, among the highest per capita computer usage in the world (far higher than the UK or USA). The saturation of technology in Iceland has had ramifications in their monetary system; a very large percentage of all transactions in Iceland take place through electronic forms of payment, such as debit and credit cards. It is also worth noting that the largest denomination banknote, the 5000 króna note, represents a value somewhat around $80 US (May, 2007). This, coupled with the generally extremely high prices in Iceland (a mid-range dinner for two in Iceland, without drinks or dessert, can easily exceed 5000 krónur), means that banknotes are not issued in sizes conducive for larger transactions. This effect may accelerate the Icelandic move towards a semi-cashless economy.
[edit] Coins
In 1981, coins were introduced in denominations of 5, 10 and 50 aurar, 1 and 5 krónur. These were followed by 10 króna pieces in 1984, 50 krónur in 1987 and 100 krónur in 1995. As of October 1, 2003, Icelandic banks no longer accept the 5, 10 and 50 eyrir coins.
[edit] Banknotes
Icelandic banknotes are printed with the dates from which the legal basis of the currency derives. In 1981, notes were issued in denominations of 10, 50, 100 and 500 krónur on the law of 29 March 1961. 1000 krónur notes were introduced in 1984, followed by 5000 krónur notes in 1986 with the same law.
100, 500, and 1000 krónur were reissued in 1994 on the law of 5 May 1986. In the following year, a new denomination 2000 krónur was issued for the very first time. The 2000 króna note is subtly different from the other notes. For example, the underprint pattern extends all the way upward and downward, while the other denominations had white margins on every side. The Arabic numeral 2000 is printed in multi color on 3 of the 4 instances. And the numeral 2000 on the lower left corner of reverse is vertical. The "shadow" of the numeral is printed with SÍ in microprint.
The 22 May 2001 series saw more changes than mere date update. The underprint and microprint change of the 2000 króna note were incorporated. 1000 and 5000 krónur also received metallic foils next to the portrait.
Notes of 100 krónur or less no longer circulate, as they have been withdrawn by the central bank. As of 2006, the vast majority of banknotes in circulation are of the 500, 1000, and 5000 denominations (these generally being the only notes dispensed in ATMs, for example). 2000 króna notes exist but are unusual and are at times referred to as "tourist money" by the local population. Their use never became widespread.
| Law of 29 March 1961 Series [1] | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Value | Dimensions | Main Colour | Description | Date of issue | |||
| Obverse | Reverse | Obverse | Reverse | Watermark | ||||
 |
10 krónur | 130 × 70 mm | Blue | Arngrímur Jónsson the Learned | Old Icelandic household scene based on Auguste Mayer's drawing | Jón Sigurðsson | 1981 | |
| 50 krónur | 135 × 70 mm | Brown | Guðbrandur Þorláksson | Printers at work in the 16th century | ||||
| 100 krónur | 140 × 70 mm | Green | Árni Magnússon | Monastic scribe | ||||
| 500 krónur | 145 × 70 mm | Red | Jón Sigurðsson | Jón at his writing desk | ||||
| 1000 krónur | 150 × 70 mm | Purple | Brynjólfur Sveinsson | Brynjólfskirkja church (1650-1802) at Skálholt | 1984 | |||
| 5000 krónur | 155 × 70 mm | Blue-green multicolour | Ragnheiður Jónsdóttir | Ragnheiður instructing two girls in embroidery | 1986 | |||
| Law of 5 May 1986 Series | ||||||||
| 100 krónur | As previous | 1994 | ||||||
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500 krónur | |||||||
| 1000 krónur | ||||||||
| 2000 krónur | 150 × 70 mm | Multicolour | Jóhannes Kjarval | Kjarval's painting Yearning for Flight and his drawing Woman and Flowers | Jón Sigurðsson | 1995 | ||
| Law of 22 May 2001 Series | ||||||||
| 500 krónur | As previous, but the underprint design extends upward and downward to fill the margin | October 2005 | ||||||
| 1000 krónur | November 2004 | |||||||
| 5000 krónur | November 2003 | |||||||
| These images are to scale at 0.7 pixels per millimetre, a Wikipedia standard for world banknotes. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. | ||||||||
[edit] Currency issues
Iceland is a fully European nation in culture and government (it has the typical Scandinavian welfare model government), and is a signatory to many pan-European agreements, including the Schengen Treaty providing for free travel amongst most of the western European countries. However, Iceland is not a member of the European Union and does not use the euro.
As it stands, the Icelandic currency is a fully convertible but low-volume world currency, strongly managed by its central bank, with a high degree of volatility not only against the US and Canadian dollars, but also against the currencies of the other Nordic countries (Swedish krona, Norwegian krone, Danish krone and the euro). For example, during the first half of 2006, the Icelandic króna has ranged between 50 to 80 per US$.
Tourists to Iceland will generally not need to carry much Icelandic currency, as in most cases electronic payment is accepted. Other world currencies are very rarely accepted in Iceland. Notable exception is Keflavík International Airport, where the US dollar, euro and some other currencies are accepted by all merchants. Certain stores in downtown Reykjavík, such as Eymundsson and Mál og menning accept some foreign currencies, including the Danish krone, the Swedish krona, United States dollar, pound sterling and the euro.
[edit] Iceland and the euro
Because of the volatility between to euro and the króna, some Icelanders are thinking about the idea of becoming a eurozone member, without joining the European Union. Former Foreign Minister Valgerður Sverrisdóttir has said in an interview with Iceland Radio that she seriously wishes to look into whether Iceland can join the euro without being a member of the 27-nation EU, according to Norwegian news NRK. Valgerður Sverrisdóttir believes it is difficult to maintain an independent currency in a small economy on the open European market. The policy of the present Icelandic government, however, is as before that neither EU membership nor euro adoption is on the agenda.
The issue is highly controversial among Icelanders. An opinion poll on the matter of Iceland joining the European Union released on 11 September 2007, by Capacent Gallup showed that 53% of respondents were in favour of adopting the euro, 37% opposed and 10% undecided. [2] However, another poll produced for the Icelandic newspaper Fréttablaðið and released on 30 September 2007 showed 56% opposed to euro adoption and 44% in favour.[3]
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[edit] Trivia
ISK (InterStellar Kredit) is used as the currency in the MMORPG EVE Online, developed by Icelandic company CCP Games. A screenshot showing ISK is available.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Krause, Chester L. and Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801-1991, 18th ed., Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-150-1.
- Pick, Albert (1994). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: General Issues, Colin R. Bruce II and Neil Shafer (editors), 7th ed., Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-207-9.
[edit] External links
- Don's World Coin Gallery - Iceland
- Ron Wise's World Paper Money - Iceland Mirror site
- The Global History of Currencies - Iceland
- Global Financial Data data series - Iceland Krona
- Global Financial Data currency histories table (
Microsoft Excel format) - Vitaly Getmansky coins
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