On 5 February 2010, exactly 200 years after Ole Bull was born, Norges Bank issued a 10 kroner coin bearing the violinist’s portrait merged with a line of music.

Ole Bornemann Bull was born on 5 February 1810 in Bergen and died on 17 August 1880. A violinist and composer of international renown, he wrote more than 70 works and supported young musicians, Edvard Grieg among them.

The reverse is by the sculptor Wenche Gulbransen: Bull’s face flows into part of the score of his piece «Seterjentens søndag» («The Herd Girl’s Sunday»), with «OLE BULL», «200 ÅR» and the value «10 KR» alongside. The obverse, by Ingrid Austlid Rise, shows Harald V with the legend «HARALD V NORGES KONGE», the date 2010 and the mintmark, a crossed pick and hammer.

The coin kept the size and alloy of the standard 10 kroner and is legal tender, yet fewer than a million circulation pieces were struck — far fewer than the Wergeland coin. Uncirculated condition: it never circulated, shows no wear and keeps its mint lustre. For a music-on-coins collection it offers a composer’s portrait literally woven into his own music.

The VPcoins catalogue includes both modern commemorative issues and coins of past eras.