COMMEMORATIVE COIN TO MARK THE NEW MILLENNIUM.

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At a press conference held at Norges Bank on 18 May 1999, Minister of Culture Anne Enger Lahnstein presented a silver commemorative coin, the first of a two-coin series in celebration of the turn of the millennium. The second coin is to be of gold. The first coin is being issued by Norges Bank in collaboration with Tusenarskiftet - Norge 2000 AS, which was established by the Government to prepare and implement activities to mark the arrival of the new millennium, and the celebration of 100 years of Norwegian independence from Sweden in 2005.

The motif on the coin's obverse is the Norwegian lion. The obverse also bears the coin's denomination, the mint year and the text "Norge fir 2000" (Norway - 2000). The turn of the millennium is symbolised on the reverse by the rings of a tree trunk and the text "Tider skal komme" ("Times will come" - Luke 21.6). The coin was designed by the Chief Engraver of the Royal Norwegian Mint, Ingrid Austlid...