Denmark and Greenland to get new banknotes

Denmark and Greenland are set to receive new banknotes, and the National Bank can already reveal which significant achievements will adorn one side of the new 50, 100, 200, and 500 kroner banknotes, and what theme will be featured on the reverse side.

Fairy tales and H.C. Andersen, astronomy and Tycho Brahe, the Earth’s core and Inge Lehmann, as well as the Thule Expedition and Arnarulunnguaq, will be the accomplishments and individuals to grace the front of the next generation of banknotes in Denmark and Greenland, while the motifs on the reverse side will revolve around the theme of the sea.

This information comes from a press release by Denmark’s National Bank.

“A banknote can unify the entire kingdom, both as a means of payment and as a symbol. Our aim has been to find achievements and individuals who represent the best of our country and connect the past and the present,” says National Bank Director Christian Kettel Thomsen, who chaired the expert group that selected the motifs and theme for the banknotes.

The expert group chose the sea because it is a central part of our shared identity, shaping our society through seafaring, trade, and fishing, while also serving as a sanctuary.

“The sea unites us and represents our outlook on the world. It has always been a part of our society and culture,” says Jeanette Skov Jensen, the design chief at the National Bank and a member of the expert group.

The group consisted of members from the National Bank as well as external experts. The decision-making process was informed by proposals from 27 museums, research and educational institutions, and 76,000 responses to the National Bank’s questionnaire, which was made available to citizens in Denmark and Greenland.

The new banknote series aims to ensure that cash remains a secure and efficient payment method in the future, replacing the current series from 2009 featuring bridges and ancient relics. In collaboration with external suppliers, the National Bank will now proceed with the work to finalize the conceptual and graphic design of the banknotes.

The design of the new banknote series is expected to be completed by early 2026, when the National Bank will unveil the final appearance of the banknotes. The new banknotes will enter circulation starting from 2028.