Olav V's coinage
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Olav V's coinage
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| Mint site: |
Kongsberg | |
| Director of the mint:: |
Thor Hjulstad, Arne Bakken, Ole-Robert Kolberg | |
| Engraver: |
Øyvind Hansen | |
| Monetary units: |
Ten-krone, five-krone, krone, 50-øre, 25-øre, ten-øre, five-øre, two-øre and øre |
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Olav V succeed Haakon VII as king in the autumn of 1957. Work was started immediately to design a completely new coin series. The result was presented the very next year. The sculptor Per Palle Storm made all the models with naturalistic animal motifs as a fixed theme on the back: horse, Norwegian elkhound, great titmouse, bee, male black grouse, and squirrel. There were a number of strong reactions to these coins. The absence of the national coat of arms was made a topic of debate in the Norwegian parliament. The finance minister, Trygve Bratteli, countered the criticism by claiming that these were the most beautiful coins the country had seen for fifty years. In a sarcastic reply, one of the representatives suggested that "...if such a sorry-looking elk was seen wandering in the forest, one would have no trouble obtaining permission to shoot outside the hunting season."
Inflation is clearly reflected in the coin series. In 1963 the five-krone was introduced. The two-øre and one-øre disappeared in 1974 while the five-øre was reduced in size. In 1983 the 25-øre and 5-øre were removed from circulation while the ten-krone was introduced as the largest coin denomination. Commemorative coins have been issued sporadically since 1661. Under Olav V, a series of anniversaries were honoured with commemorative coins ? with coins for regular circulation as well as larger collector's coins in precious metal. Arranged according to denomination the issues are as follows:
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