20-krone coin |  |
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| New 20-krone coin with the modified obverse and reverse design was put into circulation in January 2011. |
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Portrait of the Queen
The dominating decoration of the 20-krone coin is a portrait of the Queen, in keeping with the tradition for the highest values of the Danish coin series. The portrait is the work of the Sculptress, Lis Nogel, and was used on the commemorative issued to mark the Queen´s 70th birthday.
A heart
Between "Margrethe II" and "Danmarks Dronning" is a small heart, called a mint mark. This is a symbol of the place of minting, the Royal Danish Mint. The tradition of using the heart goes back many centuries and originally showed the identity of the mint master, and later the place of minting. Today the mint mark serves no practical purpose since Danish coins are only minted in one place. The year of minting is shown at the bottom of the coin.
The small coat of arms on the reverse
The reverse of the 20-krone coin depicts the small coat of arms. It comprises three lions and nine hearts under one crown. The three crowned lions have been used by Danish kings for the last 800 years. In the 16th century the number of hearts was set at nine. The hearts may not be hearts at all, but heraldic lily leaves (floating hearts) which in turn may be derived from linden leaves.
The reverse of the 20-krone coin is designed by the Royal Heraldic Painter Ronny Andersen and is used for coins minted as from 2011.
Technical specifications
The 20-krone coin is of aluminium bronze. The coin has a diameter of 27.0 mm, weighs 9.3 gram, a thickness of 2,35 mm and has a rim with interrupted milling.
Previous versions
The portrait is changed from time to time to ensure a contemporary portrait which is as close a likeness as possible. Three different portraits of the Queen have previously been used in the present coin series.
The sculptress Hanne Varming (used in 1989 - 1993)
The medallist Jan Petersen (used in 1994 - 1999)
The sculptor, Professor Mogens Møller (used 2001 - 2010).
No ordinary 20-krone coins for circulation were minted in 2000. The shown versions of previously issued 20-krone coins in the present coin series are still legal tender.
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