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500 Kronur 2013, Iceland

in Krause book Number: 58
Years of issue: 2013
Edition: 1 210 750 000
Signatures: Davíð Oddsson, Ingimundur Friðriksson
Serie: 5 May 1986 Issue
Specimen of: 22.05.2001
Material: Cotton fiber
Size (mm): 145 х 70
Printer: TDLR (Thomas de la Rue & Company), London

* All pictures marked magnify are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.

** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.

500 Kronur 2013

Description

Watermark:

watermark

Jón Sigurðsson. At the edges are cornerstones.

Vertical security strip, left from the center.

Avers:

500 Kronur 2013

Jón Sigurðsson

The engraving on banknote is made after this image of Jón Sigurðsson.

Jón Sigurðsson (June 17, 1811 - December 7, 1879) was the leader of the XIX century Icelandic independence movement. Jón's way of communicating with the Icelandic nation from Denmark where he lived was to publish an annual magazine called Ný félagsrit (New Association Writings). It was published almost every year from 1841 to 1873 with Jón always being the main contributor and financial backer. He is often referred to as President ("Jón forseti") by Icelanders. The main reason for this is that since 1851 he served as President of the Copenhagen Department of Hið íslenska bókmenntafélag (the Icelandic Literature Society). He was also the president of Althing several times, for the first time in 1849.

Denominations in numerals are in top corners. In the middle in words.

Revers:

500 Kronur 2013

Jón Sigurðsson at his writing desk, with tapestry and other articles from the National Museum's collection of his belongings.

On the right side is Reykjavík Grammar School, where parliament met in Jón Sigurðsson's day.

Reykjavik Menntaskoli

Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík (often abbreviated MR; official name in English: Reykjavik Junior College) is the oldest junior college (Icelandic: Menntaskóli) in Reykjavík, Iceland.

The school traces its origin to 1056, when a school was established in Skálholt, and it remains one of the oldest institutions in Iceland. The school was moved to Reykjavík in 1786, but poor housing conditions forced it to move again in 1805 to Bessastaðir near Reykjavík. In 1846 the school was moved to its current location, and a new building was erected for it in Reykjavík. This was the largest building in the country at the time and can be seen on the 500 Icelandic krona bill. It was used initially when Alþingi began to meet again in Reykjavík after a few years hiatus and thus it is in this building where Icelandic independence leader Jón Sigurðsson led the MPs in their famous phrase, "Vér mótmælum allir" (We are protesting).

Denominations in numerals are in lower left and top right corners.

Comments:

Increased protection against counterfeiting:

The watermark is a portrait of Jón Sigurðsson, leader of Iceland’s independence movement. It is clearly visible on both sides of the note when held up to the light.

The note has a multicoloured metallic thread embedded in the paper, 1.2 mm wide and windowed on the obverse. When held up to the light it appears as a continuous line. The cleartext inscription reads 500KR.

On both sides of the note there is intaglio printing which can be detected by touch.

Microtext on the lectern on the obverse, when magnified, forms a continuous line with the words SEÐLABANKI ÍSLANDS.

The unique serial number of the note is printed in red on the obverse, but appears yellow under ultraviolet light.

The number 500 is printed horizontally with red shadowing at the top left of the obverse and at the top right on the reverse. When magnified, the shadowing of the numbers forms a continuous pattern of the abbreviation SÍ.

On the right half of the obverse, by the upper and lower margins, is extra small print forming a continuous line with the words SEÐLABANKI ÍSLANDS.

A fluorescent green print enclosing the number 500 is visible towards the top of the middle when the note is exposed to ultraviolet light.

The paper is made of raw cotton with a different feel from that of normal paper.

A reinforced cornerstone watermark enhances the note’s durability and security.

One vertical line is intaglio-printed on the obverse to assist the visually handicapped in recognising this note.