Danish krone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Danish krone |
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ISO 4217 Code | DKK | ||||
User(s) | ![]() |
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Inflation | 1.9% | ||||
Source | Statistics Denmark, December 2024 | ||||
Method | Consumer price index | ||||
ERM | |||||
Since | 13 March 1979 | ||||
€ = | 7.46038 kr. | ||||
Band | 2.25% | ||||
Subunit | |||||
1⁄100 | øre | ||||
Symbol | kr. | ||||
Plural | kroner | ||||
øre | øre (singular and plural) | ||||
Coins | 50-øre, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 kroner | ||||
Banknotes | 50, 100, 200, 500 kroner | ||||
Printer | Oberthur Fiduciaire | ||||
Special banknotes are issued for use on the Faroe Islands–see Faroese króna |
The krone (pronounced "kro-nuh") is the official money used in Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. It was first introduced on January 1, 1875. You'll often see it written as "kr." after the amount, or with the code "DKK" before it. In English, people sometimes call it the "Danish crown" because "krone" actually means "crown." Danish krone coins have been made since the 1600s.
One krone is divided into 100 smaller parts called øre (pronounced "ooh-ruh"). The word øre might come from an old Latin word for gold. Today, the smallest coin is the 50 øre coin, which is half of a krone. There used to be more øre coins, but they were stopped because prices went up over time.
The krone is linked to the euro through a system called ERM II. This means its value stays very close to the euro. Some major political groups in Denmark want to use the euro, but in a vote in 2000, 53.2% of people chose to keep the krone instead of joining the Eurozone.
Contents
History of the Danish Krone

The very first known Danish coin was a penny made between 825 and 840 AD. But the first organized coin making started with King Harald Bluetooth in the late 900s.
Coin production in Denmark really grew when Canute the Great took charge in the 1020s. Lund (which is now in Sweden) was the main place where coins were made during the Middle Ages. For almost 1,000 years, Danish kings have put their names, symbols, or pictures on their coins.
Over many centuries, the amount of precious metal in coins was sometimes reduced. This was an easy way for rulers to make more money. But it also meant people started to trust the coins less. Because of this, Danish money was changed several times to try and make people trust it again. Later, paper money became more common.
The modern krone we know today became Denmark's official money in January 1875. It replaced an older currency called the rigsdaler. Two kroner were worth one rigsdaler. At that time, the krone was linked to gold, meaning 2,480 kroner were equal to 1 kilogram of pure gold. As the economy grew in the late 1700s and 1800s, people needed money that was easier to carry than coins, so banknotes became very popular.
The Royal Mint of Denmark used to make the krone coins, and the Danish National Bank printed the banknotes. In 2014, Denmark decided to stop making its own coins and printing its own banknotes. This work is now done by other companies. The last banknotes were printed by the National Bank on December 20, 2016.
How the Krone Works Today
The Krone and the Euro

Denmark has not adopted the euro. In a vote in 2000, people decided not to switch. However, the Danish krone is closely linked to the euro through a system called ERM II. This means its value stays very stable compared to the euro. Denmark shares a border with Germany, which uses the euro. It also borders Sweden, another EU country that has not yet joined the euro.
Money in the Faroe Islands and Greenland
The Faroe Islands use a special version of the Danish krone called the Faroese króna. It has the same value as the Danish krone and uses Danish coins. However, the Faroe Islands have their own unique banknotes, which were first made in the 1950s and updated later.
Greenland also uses Danish kroner as its official money. In 2006, Greenland planned to create its own banknotes, but in 2010, the government decided not to. So, Greenland continues to use only Danish kroner. Historically, Greenland did have its own banknotes and coins when it was a colony.
The Faroe Islands and Greenland have their own special bank codes (FO and GL), different from Denmark's (DK). This means that sending money between these places is considered an international transfer, with international fees.
Danish Coins
Coin Materials and Colors
Danish coins are designed to be easy to tell apart. They are divided into three groups, each with its own metal color. This idea comes from history. Long ago, the value of a coin matched the metal it was made from: gold for high values, silver for middle values, and copper for low values. This color system is still used today.
- The 50 øre coins are made of a copper-colored bronze.
- The 1, 2, and 5 krone coins are made of a silver-colored metal called cupronickel.
- The 10 and 20 krone coins are made of a golden metal called aluminum bronze.
The coins also differ in size, weight, and their edges. As the value of the coin increases, its size and weight also increase.
- The 50 øre and 10 krone coins have smooth edges.
- The 1 and 5 krone coins have ridged edges.
- The 2 and 20 krone coins have edges with broken ridges.
- The 1, 2, and 5 krone coins have a hole in the middle.
These different features help people who are blind or have trouble seeing to tell the coins apart easily.
Coins in Use | ||||||||||
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Image | Value | Technical Details | What's on Them | First Made | ||||||
Diameter (mm) |
Thickness (mm) |
Weight (g) |
Material | Edge | Front (Obverse) | Back (Reverse) | ||||
50 øre | 21.50 | 1.55 | 4.30 | Tin-bronze | Smooth | Crown of Christian V | Heart (mintmark); value | 1989 | ||
1 kr. | 20.25 | 1.60 | 3.60 | Cupronickel: Copper: 75%; Nickel: 25% |
Ridged | Monogram of Queen Margrethe II |
Traditional design (with a hole); Words: Danmark; value |
1992 | ||
2 kr. | 24.50 | 1.80 | 5.90 | Broken ridges | ||||||
5 kr. | 28.50 | 2.00 | 9.20 | Ridged | 1990 | |||||
10 kr. | 23.35 | 2.30 | 7.00 | Aluminium bronze: Copper: 92%; Aluminum: 6%; Nickel: 2% |
Smooth | Queen Margrethe II | Danish Coat of arms; value | 1989 | ||
20 kr. | 27.00 | 2.35 | 9.30 | Broken ridges | 1990 | |||||
For table standards, see the coin specification table. |
Special Edition Coins
Denmark also makes special 20-krone and 10-krone coins to celebrate different themes. These coins have the same size and metal as regular coins of their value.
One series of 20-krone coins, made from 2002 to 2007, showed famous towers in Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland. Another series, starting in 2007, features Danish, Faroese, and Greenlandic ships, showing Denmark's connection to the sea.
In 2005, a series of five 10-krone coins was released, featuring scenes from Hans Christian Andersen's famous fairy tales. After that, in 2007, another series of three 10-krone coins was made to celebrate the International Polar Year. These coins showed things like a polar bear, the Sirius Sledge Patrol, and the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights), highlighting scientific research and Greenland's culture.
Danish Banknotes
Most Danish banknotes issued after 1945 can still be used as payment. Since 1945, banknotes have been made in values of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 kroner.
On November 30, 2023, it was announced that all banknotes issued before 2009 are no longer valid as of May 31, 2025. The 1000-kroner banknote also stopped being legal tender on the same date. However, you can still exchange these older banknotes at Danmarks Nationalbank until May 31, 2026.
1944 Banknote Series
This series was secretly designed during World War II by Danish painter Gerhard Heilmann.
Value | Size (mm) |
Main Color |
What's on Them | Issued | Stopped Being Valid | Last Day to Exchange | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front | Back | |||||||
5 kr. | 130 × 72 | Blue | Value | Rosettes, smaller coat of arms | 1945 | 1954 | ||
10 kr. | 131 × 80 | Orange | 1945 | |||||
130 × 80 | Green | Seaweed | 1947 | |||||
50 kr. | 159 × 100 | Purple | Boat with fishermen | 1945 | 31 May 2025 | 31 May 2026 | ||
100 kr. | 159 × 100 | Green | Seaweed decoration, dolphins | |||||
500 kr. | 174 × 108 | Red | Farmer behind horse-drawn plough | |||||
For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
1952 Banknote Series
The 1952 series showed portraits of famous people and Danish landscapes. It was used from 1952 to 1964.
Value | Size (mm) |
Main Color |
What's on Them | Issued | First Issued |
Stopped Being Valid | Last Day to Exchange | ||
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Front | Back | ||||||||
5 kr. | 125 × 65 | Green | Bertel Thorvaldsen The Three Graces |
Kalundborg | 1952–1960 | 14 October 1952 | 31 May 2025 | 31 May 2026 | |
10 kr. | Orange | Hans Christian Andersen Stork's nest |
Egeskov Mill | 1952 | 1954 | ||||
125 × 71 | Gold | 1954–1974 | 31 May 2025 | 31 May 2026 | |||||
50 kr. | 153 × 78 | Blue | Ole Rømer Rundetaarn |
Stenvad long barrow | 1957–1970 | 21 May 1957 | |||
100 kr. | 155 × 78 | Red | Hans Christian Ørsted Compass |
Kronborg | 1961–1970 | 3 May 1962 | |||
500 kr. | 175 × 90 | Green | Christian Ditlev Frederik Reventlow Plough man |
Roskilde | 1963–1967 | 2 June 1964 | |||
For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
1972 Banknote Series
The 1972 series featured portraits of people and pictures of animals. It was used from 1975 to 1980.
Value | Size (mm) |
Main Color |
What's on Them | Issued | First Issued |
Stopped Being Valid | Last Day to Exchange | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front | Back | ||||||||
10 kr. | 125 × 67 | Olive | Cathrine Sophie Kirchhoff | Common eider | 1972–1978 | 8 April 1975 | 31 May 2025 | 31 May 2026 | |
20 kr. | 125 × 72 | Orange | Pauline Maria Tutein | Two house sparrows | 1979–1988 | 11 March 1980 | |||
50 kr. | 139 × 72 | Blue | Engelke Charlotte Ryberg | Crucian carp | 1972–1998 | 21 January 1975 | |||
100 kr. | 150 × 78 | Red | Jens Juel (self-portrait) | Red underwing | 1972–1993 | 22 October 1974 | |||
Orange | 1994–1998 | 16 October 1995 | |||||||
500 kr. | 164 × 85 | Green | Unknown woman | Sand lizard | 1974–1988 | 18 April 1974 | |||
1000 kr. | 176 × 94 | Grey | Thomasine Heiberg | Red squirrel | 1972–1992 | 11 March 1975 | |||
For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
1997 Banknote Series
The 1997 series showed portraits of Danish artists and scientists, and pictures of church art. It was used from 1997 to 1999.
Value | Size (mm) |
Main Color |
What's on Them | Issued | First Issued |
Stopped Being Valid | Last Day to Exchange | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front | Back | ||||||||
50 kr. | 125 × 72 | Purple | Karen Blixen | Centaur (Landet Church, Tåsinge) |
1999–2002 2004–2007 |
7 May 1999 | 31 May 2025 | 31 May 2026 | |
100 kr. | 135 × 72 | Golden orange |
Carl Nielsen | Basilisk (Tømmeby Church, Hanherred) |
1999–2001 2002–2008 |
22 November 1999 | |||
200 kr. | 145 × 72 | Green | Johanne Luise Heiberg | Lion (Viborg Cathedral) |
1997–2000 2003–2008 |
10 March 1997 | |||
500 kr. | 155 × 72 | Blue | Niels Bohr | Knight fighting a dragon (Lihme Church) |
1997–2003 2003–2008 |
12 September 1997 | |||
1000 kr. | 165 × 72 | Red | Anna and Michael Ancher | Tournament scene (Bislev Church) |
1998 2004–2006 |
18 September 1998 | |||
For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
2009 Banknote Series
The 2009 series of banknotes features Danish bridges and the landscapes around them. The bridges represent links between different parts of Denmark and connections between the past and present. The past is shown through five unique prehistoric objects found near the bridges.
These banknotes have new security features, like a special "Motion" window thread with a moving wave pattern and a detailed hologram that changes colors. They also have traditional security features like watermarks and hidden threads.
Image | Value | Size (mm) |
Main Color |
What's on Them | Issued | First Issued |
Stopped Being Valid | Last Day to Exchange | |||
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Front | Back | Front | Back | ||||||||
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50 kr. | 125 × 72 | Violet | Sallingsund Bridge | Skarpsalling vessel | 2009 | 11 August 2009 | Current | Current | |
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100 kr. | 135 × 72 | Orange-yellow | Little Belt Bridge | Hindsgavl Dagger | 2010 | 4 May 2010 | |||
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200 kr. | 145 × 72 | Green | Knippelsbro | Langstrup belt plate | 19 October 2010 | ||||
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500 kr. | 155 × 72 | Blue | Queen Alexandrine Bridge | Keldby bronze pail | 2011 | 15 February 2011 | |||
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1000 kr. | 165 × 72 | Red | Great Belt Bridge | Trundholm sun chariot | 24 May 2011 | 31 May 2025 | 31 May 2026 | ||
For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
Since 2020, a new version of the 500-kroner banknote with updated security features has been released. New versions of the 50-, 100-, and 200-kroner banknotes are planned to be released in 2024–2025.
Future Banknote Series (2028)
A new series of banknotes is planned for release in 2028. This series will not include a 1000-krone banknote, as that banknote stopped being legal tender on May 31, 2025. The 1000-krone note is being removed to help prevent money laundering. The new banknotes will be used alongside the 2009 series for a while, and eventually, only the new series will be valid.
The design process for these new banknotes started in spring 2024 and should be finished by early 2026. In September 2024, it was announced that the front of the banknotes will show "important achievements and the people behind them," while the back will feature the sea. The chosen themes and people are:
- Fairy tales and Hans Christian Andersen
- Astronomy and Tycho Brahe
- The Earth's core and Inge Lehmann
- The Thule Expedition and Arnarulunnguaq
More About the Danish Krone
- Denmark and the euro
- Economy of Denmark
- Economy of the Faroe Islands
- Economy of Greenland
See also
In Spanish: Corona danesa para niños