10 kronur 1948

Common. This issue was produced across multiple years (1948-1956) with substantial circulation quantities. eBay market data consistently shows this note selling in the $5-$100+ range depending on grade, with PMG 67 examples historically trading between $47-$99, indicating steady but not exceptional demand. The base catalog values for 2016 were modest ($10 VG, $18 VF, $30 UNC), and the wide range of sales prices across various grades reflects typical collector interest in a standard historical issue rather than a scarce variety.

Issued by Landsbanki Íslands in 1948, this note reflects Iceland's post-independence economic period following the country's formal independence from Denmark in 1944. The obverse portrait depicts Jón Sigurdsson, the nineteenth-century Icelandic independence leader and intellectual who became a national symbol, while the reverse celebrates Iceland's natural heritage through the depiction of Dettifoss, the country's most iconic waterfall. The note was printed by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co., a prestigious British security printer, indicating the quality standards Iceland maintained for its currency during this formative period of nationhood.

The obverse features a left-facing profile portrait of Jón Sigurdsson, rendered in fine engraving detail with pink and red coloration against a multicolor underprint. The denomination '10' appears in the upper left and lower left corners with ornate decorative corner flourishes and scrollwork borders framing the entire design. Text identifying the issuer and denomination runs across the center with the enabling law reference and authorization date below. The reverse maintains the consistent design aesthetic with denomination numerals in all four corners and geometric cross-hatch pattern fill in the background. The central circular vignette depicts Dettifoss waterfall, Iceland's most famous natural landmark, emphasizing national identity and natural heritage. Blank circular areas on both sides indicate watermark placement, a security feature characteristic of this era's banknote production.

FRONT SIDE: 'LANDSBANKI ÍSLANDS' (Bank of Iceland), 'TÍU KRÓNUR' (Ten Krónur), '10' (denomination), 'SAMKVENT LÖGUL NR. 19' (According to Law No. 19), '15. APRÍL 1928' (15 April 1928 - the enabling legislation date), Serial number 'S.322190', and handwritten signatures of Bank Director (left) and Bank Governor (right). BACK SIDE: '10' (denomination numerals in all four corners), 'BRADBURY, WILKINSON & CO LTD ENGRAVERS, NEW MALDEN, SURREY, ENGLAND' (printer identification).

This note was produced using traditional intaglio engraving and printing by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co Ltd, New Malden, Surrey, England, one of the world's leading security printers of the era. The fine detail visible throughout the design—particularly in the portrait rendering, ornamental borders, and background geometric patterns—is characteristic of intaglio production. The multicolor printing evident in the design demonstrates the sophisticated multi-pass printing capability of this specialist printer, with the dominant pink/red color scheme combined with the multicolor underprint typical of high-security banknote production of this period.

This note is cataloged as Pick P-33a, the primary variant printed by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co (BWC). PMG recognizes three variants for this base Pick number (P-33a, P-33b, and P-33s), though the distinctions between variants are not detailed in available references. The 'EPQ' designation on this particular note indicates exceptional paper quality with no problems noted. The serial number 'S.322190' visible on this specimen places it within the standard numbering sequence for this issue, with no prefix indicating it is from the regular circulation series issued without special prefixes.