Old Copenhagen Stock Exchange, Børsen

On 1 May 2003 the second coin in was put into circulation. The motif is the characteristic spire of the old Copenhagen Stock Exchange, Børsen, with four intertwined dragon tails.

Børsen was built in 1618-1624 by King Christian IV to mark Copenhagen's increasing importance as a trading centre. The dragon tails were said to protect Børsen against fire and foe.

The sculptor Karin Lorentzen designed the relief of Børsen, and comments on her work with the coin:

"The tower is a beautiful symbol of artistic extravagance and richness which is not designed to impress by being largest and most authoritative, but which charms us with its delicate, sophisticated form and artful dragons.

I have stressed this by shifting the position of the tower in relation to the central vertical axis of the coin, and by placing emphasis on the gaps.

It is possible to look through the tower chamber below the dragons, which underlines the lightness of the tower."