A pair of spectacles and a sweeping signature instead of a portrait: this is how the artist Enzo Finger depicted Henrik Wergeland on the commemorative 10 kroner of 2008, issued for the poet’s 200th birthday.

Wergeland was one of Norway’s greatest poets and a champion of equality and tolerance who opposed social oppression. His characteristic glasses and the signature «Henrik Wergeland» on the reverse say more about him than any profile, with the value «10 KR» beside them. The folded spectacles stand for completion and the past and at the same time form the number «200» for the jubilee, while the background has the wavy texture of paper. The obverse, by Ingrid Austlid Rise, shows King Harald V facing right, the legend «HARALD V NORGES KONGE» and the date 2008 with the mintmark.

Norges Bank put the coin into circulation at face value on 17 June 2008 in the standard 10 kroner format, with an edge of alternating plain and milled sections. The same design was used for a 200 kroner silver coin limited to 40,000 pieces, while the circulating version exceeded 4.6 million.

Uncirculated condition: the coin never circulated, shows no wear and keeps its mint lustre. It is one of Harald V’s commemorative 10 kroner devoted to figures of Norwegian culture and a natural companion to the 2010 Ole Bull coin in a collection of literature and personalities on coins.

Collectors who focus on a single country will find its other issues in the VPcoins catalogue as well.