5 Kroner 1953, Greenland
| in Krause book | Number: 18b |
| Years of issue: | 1953 - 1967 |
| Edition: | -- |
| Signatures: | Hans C. Christiansen, Børge Ibsen |
| Serie: | Serie of 1953 |
| Specimen of: | 1953 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 130 х 84 |
| Printer: | Banknote Printing Works and The Royal Danish Mint, Copenhagen |
* All pictures marked 
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.
Description
Watermark:
Sea waves and repetitive Crowns (normal and inverted images).
Avers:
Centered is the polar bear standing on an ice floe.
The polar bear is the world's largest land-based predator and is thus larger than other species of bear. Its fascinating strength has made it a popular symbol of strength in the Arctic world, and the Government of Greenland uses the polar bear in the official national coat of arms.
In Greenland the polar bear lives and breeds in the northernmost parts of West Greenland and in Northeast Greenland, but is also occasionally seen elsewhere in Greenland, as it moves with the drifting ice.
However, it is extremely rare for either local inhabitants or tourists to see a living polar bear. The chances of seeing a polar bear are greatest when sailing by ship along the coast.
They are relatively easy to spot due to their off-white fur, which is clearly distinguishable against the pack ice or the landscape.
The Greenlandic polar bear may only be hunted in quite special circumstances but when an animal is killed there is - as with all other animals captured in Greenland - a tradition for utilizing the whole animal.
For example, the meat is eaten, the skull is used as a trophy, the claws as jewellery and the hide for trousers or kamik.
The polar bear is not threatened by hunting, but rather by environmental pollution. So-called POPs (persistent organic pollutants) have been discovered in very high concentrations in polar bears from East Greenland and Svalbard. This has led to concern about the polar bear's ability to reproduce.
"At the same time the effects of global warming mean that the Arctic ice is melting, thereby further reducing the polar bear's natural habitat." (greenland.com)
On the sides are inscriptions: DEN KONGELIGE GRØNLANDSKE HANDEL (The Royal Greenland Trading Department).
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The Royal Greenland Trading Department (Den Kongelige Grønlandske Handel, KGH) was a Dano-Norwegian and (after 1814) Danish state enterprise charged with administering the realm's settlements and trade in Greenland. The company managed the government of Greenland from 1774 to 1908 through its Board of Managers in Copenhagen and a series of Royal Inspectors and Governors in Godthaab and Godhavn on Greenland.
Following the introduction of home rule in Greenland in 1979, the company was reformed into several successors, including the KNI conglomerate, the Royal Greenland fishing company, and the Royal Arctic shipping company.
Denominations are on the right and left sides and in all corners.
Revers:
Centered is a map of Greenland.
On left side is Greenlandic coat of arms with the crown.
The coat of arms of Greenland is a blue shield featuring a silver polar bear. This symbol was first introduced in the coat of arms of Denmark in 1666 and it is still represented in the arms of the Danish royal family.
The version currently used by the government of Greenland was designed by Greenlandic artist Jens Rosing. The polar bear symbolizes the fauna of Greenland and the blue (azure) color designates the Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean Greenland is washed by. Instead of the Danish version in the royal arms which follows the heraldic tradition in raising the right forepaw, the polar bear on the Greenlandic coat of arms raises the left forepaw, due to the traditional Inuit belief that polar bears are left-handed.
A similar arms is used by the official Danish government representative in Greenland. In this case, the bear raises its right paw, and the shield is crowned with the royal crown.
A blazon in heraldic terms is: Azure, a polar bear rampant argent.
The polar bear was first included as a symbol of Greenland in the Danish coat of arms during the reign of King Frederick III of Denmark, but did not gain widespread use on its own until the early XX century.
On the right side is danish coat of arms (Danmarks rigsvaben). One of the main state symbols of the country. Its present form was adopted in 1972. Consists of three blue lions and leopard, surrounded by 9 red hearts on a gold shield. Top coat is crowned by the king's crown.
Denominations are in all corners.
Comments:
In my coin collection of bears, beavers, elks and owls I found also this Greenlandic coins. Here are they:
Interesting facts about Greenland:
1) The world's only military unit moving on dog sledding belongs to the Denmark army. Military patrol "Sirius" is engaged in patrolling the northern coast of Greenland, where the sled - the only effective form of transport. Simultaneously the service are 6 teams of 2 people and 10-15 dogs , and the distance between the two extreme points of the route is several thousand kilometers.
2) Not all birds of the northern hemisphere winter fly south. Gulls, living in Greenland, upon the occurrence of frost flies, flying on the contrary, to the north. On the shore of the Arctic Ocean are many places where open water is still not completely covered by ice, and here Gulls spending the wintertime, eating fish and crustaceans.
3) The caterpillars of many butterflies, living in northern latitudes, do not have time to turn into a pupa in a single summer, causing forced to hibernate until next summer. Occurring in Greenland and Canada, Gynaephora groenlandica, makes a record in this regard - the life cycle of this caterpillar can last up to 14 years. Another unique capability is the ability of these caterpillars during wintering withstand temperatures up to -70 ° C.
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