Banknotes 1877-1901 (Series I)
Under the Money Act of 17 April 1875, the speciedaler and the skilling were replaced by kroner and øre. New notes were therefore necessary.
The Oscar II series ushered in the era of modern Norwegian banknotes and was the first and only series to feature the monarch's portrait on the obverse. The notes were printed on white paper using copper plate and multicolour letterpress techniques. The sketches for the copper plates were done by the architect Eilert Chr. Christie of Trondheim, while paper and engravings were supplied by Saunders in London.
Initially, the obverses were also printed in London, while the reverse sides were printed at Norges Bank's printing works in Trondheim, until a copper plate printing press was acquired in 1891. From the same year, paper was supplied by the Swedish central bank's printing works in Tumba near Stockholm. Each note was dated and signed by hand.
5-krone note
Issued 1877-1901. No longer valid from 13 July 1998. Number issued: 40 900 000. Size: 135 x 78 mm.
Obverse: King Oscar II.
Reverse: At left, a stylised Viking king, at right, the coat of arms of Norway surmounted by the royal crown.
10-krone note
Issued 1877-1901. No longer valid from 13 July 1998. Number issued: 28 900 000. Size: 135 x 78 mm.
Obverse: King Oscar II. Coat of arms of Norway surmounted by the royal crown and ringed by the arms of the diocesan towns (see reverse of 1000-krone note below) at right.
Reverse: At left, a stylised Viking king, at right, the coat of arms of Norway surmounted by the royal crown.
50-krone note
Issued 1877-1901. No longer valid from 13 July 1998. Number issued: 1 800 000. Size: 156 x 135 mm.
Obverse: King Oscar II.
Reverse: At left, a stylised Viking king, at right, the coat of arms of Norway surmounted by the royal crown.
100-krone note
Issued 1877-1901. No longer valid from 13 July 1998. Number issued: 1 300 000. Size: 156 x 135 mm.
Obverse: King Oscar II.
Reverse: At left, a stylised Viking king, at right, the coat of arms of Norway surmounted by the royal crown.
500-krone note
Issued 1877-1901. No longer valid from 13 July 1998. Number issued: 500 000. Size: 234 x 135 mm.
Obverse: King Oscar II at left.
Reverse: At left, a stylised Viking king, at right, the coat of arms of Norway surmounted by the royal crown.
1000-krone note
Issued 1877-1901. No longer valid from 13 July 1998. Number issued: 85 000. Size: 234 x 135 mm.
Obverse: Kong Oscar II. Arms of the diocesan towns: Christiania, Bergen and Hamar at left, Trondheim, Kristiansand and Tromsø at right.
Reverse: At left, a stylised Viking king, at right, the coat of arms of Norway surmounted by the royal crown.