50 kronur 1981
About This Note
An exceptional uncirculated example of Iceland's 1981 50 Kronur note (Pick P-49(3)), featuring a striking portrait of Guðbrandur Þorláksson, the 16th-17th century Icelandic religious figure, rendered in fine engraved detail against an ornate scrollwork background. The reverse depicts historical craftsmen at work at a printing press, showcasing the note's sophisticated intaglio printing with pristine paper quality and no signs of circulation.
Common. The 1981 50 Kronur series was a standard circulation issue by the Central Bank of Iceland with substantial print runs to support general commerce in Iceland. The UNC condition designation, while desirable, does not significantly elevate rarity for this relatively modern note, as many examples survive in uncirculated condition from collector preservation and banking stocks.
This note commemorates Guðbrandur Þorláksson (1541-1627), a pivotal figure in Icelandic religious and cultural history who championed the Reformation in Iceland. The reverse's depiction of historical printers reflects Iceland's pride in its printing heritage and literary traditions, connecting the modern currency to the nation's medieval manuscript culture and the establishment of printing as a craft in Nordic lands.
The obverse features a finely engraved three-quarter portrait of Guðbrandur Þorláksson, identifiable by the historical documentation on the note itself, depicting him as a bearded man in 16th-17th century clerical dress with wide-sleeved dark robes and period headwear. The background employs elaborate Renaissance-style scrollwork and shell motifs arranged in an ornamental border. The reverse depicts two craftsmen in period dress working at what appears to be a historical printing press or similar workstation, set beneath a wooden structural framework, with dense background text in historical Icelandic script providing both historical context and anti-counterfeiting characteristics.
Front side: '50' (denomination in upper left), 'SEDLABANKI ÍSLANDS' (Central Bank of Iceland), 'Guðbrandur Þorláksson 1541-1627' (portrait identification and dates), 'SAMKVÆMT LÖGUM NR.10' (According to Law No. 10), '29. MARS 1961' (March 29, 1961 - the authorization date), 'Sammtökt krónum' (United kronur/currency designation), 'B00006207' (serial number). Back side: '50' (denomination repeated in upper right and lower left corners), background filled with historical Old Norse/Icelandic text serving both decorative and security purposes.
Intaglio engraving (likely combination of steel plate engraving and possibly rotogravure for the background text), characteristic of high-security banknote production of the era. The fine line work visible in both portraits, the ornamental borders, and architectural details indicate professional currency printing with multiple passes. This series was produced by specialist security printers typical of Central European banknote production standards of the 1960s-1980s.
This specific example carries the serial number B00006207, indicating early production from the B-series printing run. The note's Pick catalog designation P-49(3) indicates this is the third known variety of the 50 Kronur denomination within this catalog system, likely distinguished by minor design variations or date/authority changes across the series. The authorization date of March 29, 1961 (printed on the note) predates the 1981 reissue designation, indicating this was a design maintained and reprinted across multiple years of production.
