10 kronur 1981

Common. The 10 Kronur denomination from the 1961 Law authorization series was issued in substantial quantities throughout its circulation period (including this 1981 printing variant), and examples remain widely available in the collector market. Uncirculated examples, while more desirable than circulated notes, are not scarce for this Pick number, as many banknotes from this series were preserved by collectors. The regular issuance quantities and ongoing availability in the secondary market support a common classification regardless of condition.

This note was issued under Law No. 10 of March 29, 1961 by the Central Bank of Iceland (Sedlabanki Íslands), though the visual analysis indicates this is actually a 1981 printing of the design. The portrait side honors Arngrímur Jónsson (1568-1648), a pivotal Icelandic scholar and religious figure whose works were fundamental to preserving Icelandic language and culture during the Danish rule period. The reverse depicts traditional Icelandic household life, reflecting the nation's cultural heritage and the importance Iceland placed on celebrating its domestic traditions and scholarly contributions during the post-independence era.

The obverse features a three-quarter portrait of Arngrímur Jónsson, a bearded scholar in dark period clothing typical of the 16th-17th century, rendered in meticulous engraving style on the right side of the note. The background is dominated by a salmon-pink field with an ornamental border featuring repeated circular floral motifs in blue, and a large central sunburst or spiral design in orange and yellow—a distinctive art nouveau-inspired element. The denomination appears in large blue numerals on the left and within a decorative circular seal on the right. The reverse displays a complex narrative engraving depicting an Old Icelandic household interior scene rendered entirely in blue ink, showing multiple figures in period dress engaged in domestic activities, surrounded by period-accurate furnishings, vessels, baskets with woven patterns, and various household utensils. This reverse design serves as both an artistic and ethnographic documentation of traditional Icelandic domestic life.

FRONT SIDE: '10' (denomination in large numerals); 'TÍU KRÓNUR' (Ten Kronur); 'Arngrímur Jónsson lærði 1568-1648' (Arngrímur Jónsson the Learned 1568-1648); 'SEDLABANKI ÍSLANDS' (Central Bank of Iceland); 'SAMKVÆMT LÖGUM NR.10 29. MARS 1961' (According to Law No. 10 of March 29, 1961); 'A 05115373' (Serial number, appearing twice). BACK SIDE: '10' (denomination numerals in upper right and lower left corners).

This banknote was produced using traditional intaglio (engraved) printing for the portrait and household scene details, combined with offset lithography for the background colors and ornamental elements. The front features multi-color offset printing layering the salmon-pink background with blue ornamental borders and orange-yellow sunburst design, while the finely detailed portrait and denomination numerals were intaglio-printed to create sharp, raised-ink impressions characteristic of high-security banknote production. The reverse employs single-color intaglio engraving in blue ink, showcasing intricate line work and cross-hatching techniques for dimensional detail. This note was likely printed by a Scandinavian security printer, possibly the Norwegian or Swedish state printing works, as was common for Nordic central banks during this period.

This note represents the 1981 printing of the design authorized under the 1961 law (Pick P-48(4) designation). The serial number format 'A 05115373' indicates a standard series production. Known varieties of this denomination include different signature combinations on the bank governor and other officials, as well as subtle variations in the security printing processes across different printings. The salmon-pink coloration of the obverse and the specific artistic rendering with the prominent sunburst design distinguishes this from earlier iterations of 10 Kronur notes. Collectors should note variations in signature pairs and slight changes in ornamental border rendering across different print runs of this series.