NEW 500-KRONE BANKNOTE.

• Position: Brief Article

A new 500-krone banknote was presented at a press conference at Norges Bank on 2 June 1999. The note was put into circulation on 7 June and is the fourth denomination to be issued as part of the Series VII Norwegian banknotes. The obverse, beating a portrait of the young Sigrid Undset, was designed by Sverre Morken, Chief Graphic Designer. The rosette on the left bears elements inspired by her lace collars, while the background is based on traditional Norwegian weaving patterns and Gudbrandsdal tapestries. The reverse was designed by Arild Yttri, Deputy Graphic Designer. It bears a wreath of wheat spikes and wild roses, inspired by the first book in the Kristin Lavransdatter series, The Bridal Wreath. The base pattern on the reverse also draws upon elements from old Gudbrandsdal tapestries.

Sigrid Undset wrote 33 books and several hundred articles. An old manuscript recently discovered in her home, Bjerkebaek, in Lillehammer, was published in book form in 1998. Even in childhood, she dreamt of becoming an author. Her debut novel, Fru Marta Oulie, was borne of long hours of work at night...