5 kronor 1948

Common. While this is a commemorative issue with a limited sales quantity (172,819 pieces sold of 1,000,000 printed), the surviving quantity remains substantial. Market data from realbanknotes.com shows consistent eBay sales ranging from $7 to $85 depending on grade, with UNC examples regularly selling in the $40-50 range and averaging under $40. The catalogue 2016 value for UNC was $20. The high volume of sales transactions and moderate prices indicate this note is readily available to collectors and should not be considered scarce or rare.

This commemorative banknote was issued by Sveriges Riksbank in 1948 to honor King Gustav V's 90th birthday, a significant milestone for the Swedish monarchy. The obverse prominently features the elderly King in formal military regalia with decorations, while the reverse displays the crowned coat of arms representing Swedish heraldic tradition and national identity. The note's special status—sold at double face value with proceeds benefiting the King's charity fund—reflects the cultural importance placed on this royal milestone during Sweden's post-World War II period.

The obverse features a formal left-facing portrait of King Gustav V in advanced age, depicted wearing military dress uniform adorned with medals and decorations across the chest, characteristic of his status as Swedish monarch and military commander-in-chief. An ornate circular design frames the large denomination '5' in the center, surrounded by decorative scrollwork and geometric patterns. The crowned coat of arms appears on the right side with the year '1948' inscribed below. The reverse displays the full Swedish royal coat of arms with a quartered shield design containing heraldic lions, crowns, and regional symbols of Sweden's constituent territories, topped with an elaborate crown. Decorative botanical sprigs flank the shield, and the entire composition is framed with fine ornamental borders. The color scheme of green/olive on the obverse and brown/sepia tones on the reverse is consistent with Swedish banknote design of this era.

Front side: 'SVERIGES RIKSBANK' (Sweden's Central Bank), '5 KRONOR' (5 Kronors currency denomination), '1948' (issue year), '0453668' (serial number). Additional elements include signature lines and technical markings. Back side: '5' (denomination), 'KRONOR' (currency unit), 'KRONOR 5' (additional denomination marking). All text is in Swedish, the official language of Sweden.

Intaglio engraving (line engraving) printed in multiple colors. The note exhibits the characteristic fine-line work, intricate geometric background patterns, and detailed heraldic engraving typical of high-security Swedish banknote production from this period. The complex security printing with repetitive patterns and fine ornamental borders indicates production by Sveriges Riksbank's authorized security printer, using traditional banknote engraving methods.

Pick catalog number P-41a represents the primary variety of this commemorative issue. The note observed displays serial number 0453668 in red ink on the upper right front. Varieties may exist based on signature variations and serial number ranges, though the PMG population report indicates only one catalogued variant for this Pick number. Unwrapped notes (sold without the commemorative foil packaging) represent the standard circulation form, as most purchasers removed the original packaging themselves, making wrapped specimens rarer than unwrapped examples. The 1948 date mark on all specimens of this issue is consistent.