1 krone 1913

Uncommon. While not ultra-rare, the 1913 Greenland 1 Krone is a colonial-era note with limited historical print runs, and examples in uncirculated condition are less frequently encountered than circulated specimens. Catalog values from 2016 list UNC examples at $725, with recent eBay EF sales (comparable grade) achieving $322, indicating steady collector demand but not extreme scarcity. The Pick P-13d designation suggests this is one of several catalogued varieties for this base denomination, and the condition grade (UNC) is notably superior to average market examples, enhancing its appeal and value.

This 1913 note reflects Greenland's colonial administration under Denmark during the early 20th century, with the issuing authority (Styrelsen af Kolonierne i Grønland) representing the formal governmental control of the settlements. The musk ox depicted on the obverse symbolizes the Arctic fauna indigenous to Greenland and the importance of wildlife and hunting to the colonial economy, while the heraldic arms on the reverse—featuring a polar bear and Danish lion elements—underscore the Danish sovereignty and administrative structure governing the Greenlandic territories.

The obverse presents a central oval vignette of a musk ox standing in a mountainous Greenlandic landscape with rocky terrain beneath it, surrounded by a decorative wavy-line border with circular medallions containing the numeral '1' positioned in all four corners. The reverse features a light green/aquamarine field with a large white numeral '1' within a circle surrounded by radiating fine-line work, flanked by heraldic arms: a polar bear rampant in the upper left (representing Greenland) and a Danish lion with hearts and heraldic elements in the upper right (representing the Danish crown). The color scheme of cream/beige with dark blue on the obverse contrasts with the pale green tones of the reverse, creating a distinctive and attractive aesthetic characteristic of early 20th-century Danish colonial currency.

OBVERSE: 'Denne ANVISNING gælder ved Handelsstderne i Grønland for' (This note is valid at the trading stations in Greenland for); 'KRONE' (Krone); '1' (1); 'STYRELSEN AF KOLONIERNE I GRØNLAND' (The Administration of the Colonies in Greenland); 'ANDRAESEN & LACHMANN LIT.' (Andraesen & Lachmann Lithography); 'Direktionen' (The Management/Direction); Serial number '27294'. REVERSE: '1' (1); 'KRONE' (Krone); 'STYRELSEN AF KOLONIERNE I GRØNLAND' (The Administration of the Colonies in Greenland).

Lithography, as indicated by the 'LIT.' designation on the note and confirmed by the printer credit 'ANDRAESEN & LACHMANN' (a Danish lithographic firm). The fine line work, decorative borders, and damask pattern visible in the background demonstrate the sophisticated technical capabilities of lithographic production, with careful registration of multiple color passes (blue and cream on obverse; green and white on reverse) typical of high-quality lithographic bank note production of the era.

This note is catalogued as Pick P-13d. The PMG Population Report identifies multiple varieties for the base Pick-13 number, including P-13b (bearing signatures of D. Jensen and Munch) and P-13r, suggesting signature varieties and/or printer variants exist. The observed serial number '27294' and the absence of visible signature lines on the examined specimen indicate this particular example does not bear the signed variant designation of P-13b, confirming it as the standard P-13d variety.