100 kronur 1981
About This Note
This is an uncirculated 1981 Icelandic 100 kronur note (Pick P-50(3)) featuring a portrait of the renowned scholar Árni Magnússon on the obverse and a detailed engraving of a medieval scribe at work on the reverse. The note exhibits pristine condition with no signs of circulation, displaying the characteristic pink, green, cream, and brown color palette with ornate border designs and microprint security features typical of Central Bank of Iceland issues from this period.
Common. This is a standard circulation issue from the Central Bank of Iceland with no documented print run restrictions or special scarcity factors. The note remained in production as part of the standard currency series for many years, and uncirculated examples are regularly available in the market. No evidence suggests limited production runs or recall status for this specific Pick number.
Issued under Law No. 10 of March 29, 1961, by Sedlabanki Íslands (Central Bank of Iceland), this note commemorates Árni Magnússon (1663-1730), one of Iceland's most important historical figures and a pioneer in preserving Icelandic manuscripts and cultural heritage. The reverse depicts a monk or scholar in a scriptorium, reflecting Iceland's medieval literary traditions and the nation's deep connection to its manuscript heritage, which Magnússon himself devoted his life to preserving and cataloging.
The obverse features a three-quarter portrait of Árni Magnússon (1663-1730), the Icelandic scholar and antiquarian, depicted with characteristically curled 17th-century hair and period clothing, positioned on the right side of the note. The center displays ornate decorative text in Icelandic reading 'Eitt húndrad króna' with an ornamental crown design at the top. The reverse depicts a detailed engraving of a robed medieval scribe or monk working at a desk with papers and writing implements, symbolizing Iceland's rich manuscript tradition. An elaborate medieval-style illuminated initial letter 'O' with religious and allegorical figures appears on the left side of the reverse, with ornamental heraldic designs completing the scholarly theme.
Front side: '100' (denomination), 'Árni Magnússon 1663-1730' (portrait identification), 'Eitt húndrad króna' (One hundred kronur), 'SAMKVÆMT LÖGUM NR.10 29. MARS 1961' (According to Law No. 10, March 29, 1961), 'SEDLABANKI ÍSLANDS' (Central Bank of Iceland), Serial number 'C01314099'. Back side: '100' (denomination appears in top right and bottom left corners). The back contains minimal inscriptions, focusing on the illustrative design of the scholar at work.
Intaglio (engraving) printing, the standard method for Central Bank of Iceland banknotes of this era. The note incorporates microprint patterns in the background as a security feature, complex ornate border designs, and detailed engraved imagery characteristic of high-security currency production. The printer was likely De La Rue or another major security printer contracted by Sedlabanki Íslands, though specific printer attribution for this Pick number is not definitively documented in standard catalogs.
The observed specimen shows serial number C01314099. Pick catalog designation P-50(3) indicates this is part of the third variety or signature variant of the 100 kronur denomination from the 1961 series. Specific signature varieties and printing variations exist within this designation, which would require direct comparison with the note to determine the exact sub-variety. The uncirculated condition and pristine state of this example suggest it may be from a later printing stage or original bank stock.
