Árbók Hins íslenzka fornleifafélags - 01.01.1962, Page 123

ALÞINGISHÁTlÐARPENINGARNIR
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2. Commcmorative coin of silver, price 5 krónur.
Obverse: A „lögsögumaður" (lawspeaker) at the Lögberg. The lettering:
MEÐ LÖGUM SKAL LAND BYGGJA (A country must be founded on law).
— B. B., the initials of the artist, Baldvin Björnsson.
Rcverse: Two mediaeval intertwined dragons, recalling those on the
well known church door from Valþjófsstaðir. The lettering: ALÞINGI VAS
SETT AT RAÞI ULFLIOTS OK ALLRA LANDSMANNA (The Althing was
established by the counsel of Ulfljot and all tlie people of the land), quoted
from Ari’s íslendingabók (Book of the Icelanders). — G. E., the initials of
the artist, Guðmundur Einarsson.
On the edge: 5 KRÓNUR.
Weight 22 gr, diameter 35,5 mm.
3. Commcmorative coin of bronze, price 2 krónur.
Obverse: A goddess, carrying the torch of liberty in her hand. — B. B.,
the initials of the artist, Baldvin Björnsson.
Reverse: The four guardian spirits of Iceland and a runic inscription
reading: The Althing was founded nine hundred and thirty. Nineteen
hundred and thirty. -— T. M., the initials of the artist, Tryggvi Magnússon.
On the edge: 2 KRÓNUR.
Weight 20 gr, diameter 35,5 mm.
A misleading photograph of the coins in Magnús Jónsson, Alþingishátíðin
1930, Reykjavík 1943, has caused the question to be raised (by S. Björkman
in Nordisk numismatisk unions medlemsblad 1959, p. 28 ff.), whether there
were two issues of the 10 and 5 krónur coins. It is to be regretted that
this photograph ever was published since it does not show the coins in their
final shape. Tliese photographs were obviously taken by the mint and sent to
thc Althing committee for revision, whereafter the committee has decided
that the initials of the artists sliould appear in the same way on all six sides.
Such was the final form of the coins and lliere was nevcr any other issue
of them.
In an appendix the author deals with and describes an Althing cele-
bration medal, designed by the artist Ásmundur Sveinsson and issued by
the Administration des Monnaies & Médailles on behalf of some friends of
Iceland in Paris.
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