Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 10 Kronur 1996-2008, KM# 29.1a, Iceland
  • 10 Kronur 1996-2008, KM# 29.1a, Iceland
Obverse

The four traditional protector spirits ("Landvættir") of Iceland. These are Griðungur the bull, Gammur the eagle, Dreki the dragon, and Bergrisi the giant.

Landvættir ("land wights") are spirits of the land in Norse mythology and in Germanic neopaganism. They protect and promote the flourishing of the specific places where they live, which can be as small as a rock or a corner of a field, or as large as a section of a country.

The bull (Griðungur) is the protector of northwestern Iceland, the eagle or griffin (Gammur) protects northeastern Iceland, the dragon (Dreki) protects the southeastern part, and the rock-giant (Bergrisi) is the protector of southwestern Iceland. Great respect was given to these creatures of Iceland, so much that there was a law during the time of the Vikings that no ship should bear grimacing symbols (most often dragonheads on the bow of the ship) when approaching Iceland. This was so the protectors would not be provoked unnecessarily.

TÍU KRÓNUR
ÍSLAND 1996

Reverse

Face value above four Capelin fishes.

The capelin or caplin (Mallotus villosus) is a small forage fish of the smelt family found in the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Arctic Oceans. Capelin populations in the Barents Sea and around Iceland perform extensive seasonal migrations. Icelandic capelin move inshore in large schools to spawn and migrate in spring and summer to feed in the plankton-rich oceanic area between Iceland, Greenland, and Jan Mayen. Around Iceland, maturing capelin usually undertake extensive northward feeding migrations in spring and summer, and the return migration takes place in September to November. The spawning migration starts from north of Iceland in December to January.

10 KR

Edge

10 Kronur

Magnetic
KM# 29.1a Schön# 32a
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Characteristics
Material Nickel Plated Steel
Weight 7 g
Diameter 27.5 mm
Thickness 1.78 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Mint

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