Iceland 5 piece Coin Set 1 5 10 50 100 Kronur KM#27a 28a 29.1a 31 35 XF

Iceland’s circulation coinage is a complete mythology and a complete marine biology lesson pressed into five coins. The obverses carry the ancient guardian spirits of the island — the Landvættir — drawn from Norse legend and still emblazoned on the national coat of arms. The reverses carry the sea: a cod, two dolphins, four capelin, a crab, a lumpfish — five creatures from the cold North Atlantic waters that have defined Icelandic life since the first settlers arrived in 874 AD. This complete five-coin set spans every denomination from 1 Króna to 100 Krónur, all XF (Extra Fine), all minted at the Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom. Combined weight: 33.50 g.

The Landvættir: Iceland’s Four Guardians

The Landvættir — “land spirits” in Old Norse — are the four supernatural protectors of Iceland, each assigned to a cardinal direction. The story of their power comes from the Heimskringla: when a Danish king sent a sorcerer in the shape of a whale to scout Iceland for invasion, each spirit appeared in turn and drove him back.

• Bergrisi — the Mountain Giant of the North. Emerged from the mountains, massive and terrible, club in hand, flanked by a host of other giants. Guards the 1 Króna alone; joins the others on the 5, 10, 50, and 100 Krónur.
• Gammur — the Great Eagle of the East. Appeared with wings spread so wide they touched the mountains on either side.
• Griðungur — the Bull of the West. Waded into the sea and bellowed so fiercely the sorcerer could not pass.
• Dreki — the Dragon of the South. Flew overhead breathing fire, followed by a swarm of serpents.

The invasion never came. All four appear on the coat of arms of Iceland to this day — and on four of the five coins in this set.

The Sea on the Reverse: Five Creatures, One Ocean

Each coin carries a different creature from Icelandic waters — together they form a portrait of the North Atlantic ecosystem that has sustained Iceland for over a millennium.

The Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) on the 1 Króna is the most historically charged: it built Iceland’s medieval economy, triggered the Cod Wars with the UK (1950s–1976), and won Iceland a 200-nautical-mile exclusive fishing zone. The Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) on the 5 Krónur leaps in pairs — kinetic, intelligent, a reminder that Iceland’s waters are rich beyond fish alone. The Capelin (Mallotus villosus) on the 10 Krónur schools in fours — small, abundant, the linchpin of the entire food web, feeding cod, seabirds, and whales. The Shore Crab (Carcinus maenas) on the 50 Krónur is the intertidal surprise — armored, sideways-walking, now one of the world’s most invasive crustaceans, but entirely at home on Iceland’s volcanic shores. And the Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) on the 100 Krónur is the most unlikely of all — lumpy, scaleless, anchored to rocks by a suction disc, its roe harvested as Iceland’s answer to caviar, its males guarding egg masses alone for weeks. Five reverses. Five species. One ocean.

1 Króna — KM#27a

• Obverse: Bergrisi the giant alone — Landvættur of the North. Lettering: EIN KRÓNA / ÍSLAND
• Reverse: Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) — blunt snout, chin barbel, fanned tail, lateral line in crisp relief. Lettering: 1 KR
• Composition: Nickel plated steel (magnetic)
• Weight: 4.00 g  |  Diameter: 21.50 mm  |  Thickness: 1.70 mm
• Edge: Reeded  |  Years: 1989–2011
• Catalog numbers: KM# 27a; Schön# 30a; SIEG# 27.2; Numista N#1549

5 Krónur — KM#28a

• Obverse: All four Landvættir — Bergrisi, Dreki, Gammur, Griðungur — the full coat of arms. Lettering: FIMM KRÓNUR / ÍSLAND
• Reverse: Two Common Dolphins (Delphinus delphis) — leaping in profile, bodies arched in dynamic symmetry. Lettering: 5 KR
• Composition: Nickel plated steel (magnetic)
• Weight: 5.60 g  |  Diameter: 24.50 mm  |  Thickness: 1.78 mm
• Edge: Reeded  |  Years: 1996–2008
• Catalog numbers: KM# 28a; Schön# 31a; SIEG# 46.2; Numista N#1551

10 Krónur — KM#29.1a

• Obverse: All four Landvættir — the full coat of arms. Lettering: TÍU KRÓNUR / ÍSLAND
• Reverse: Four Capelin (Mallotus villosus) — schooling in tight formation, bodies curved and overlapping. Lettering: 10 KR
• Composition: Nickel plated steel (magnetic)
• Weight: 6.90 g  |  Diameter: 27.50 mm  |  Thickness: 1.78 mm
• Edge: Reeded  |  Years: 1996–2008
• Catalog numbers: KM# 29.1a; Schön# 32a; SIEG# 56.2; Numista N#7912

50 Krónur — KM#31

• Obverse: All four Landvættir — the full coat of arms. Lettering: FIMMTÍU KRÓNUR / ÍSLAND
• Reverse: Shore Crab (Carcinus maenas) — dorsal view, carapace detailed, claws extended, five lateral spines visible. Lettering: 50 KR
• Composition: Nickel brass (70% Cu, 24.5% Zn, 5.5% Ni)
• Weight: 8.25 g  |  Diameter: 23.00 mm  |  Thickness: 2.60 mm
• Edge: Reeded  |  Years: 1987–2005
• Catalog numbers: KM# 31; Schön# 33; SIEG# 66; Numista N#1550

100 Krónur — KM#35

• Obverse: All four Landvættir — the full coat of arms. Lettering: EITT HUNDRÆÐ KRÓNUR / ÍSLAND
• Reverse: Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) — profile view, lumpy scaleless body, dorsal ridge, suction disc implied in belly curve. Lettering: 100 KR
• Composition: Nickel brass (70% Cu, 24.5% Zn, 5.5% Ni)
• Weight: 8.50 g  |  Diameter: 25.50 mm  |  Thickness: 2.25 mm
• Edge: Smooth and reeded alternately  |  Years: 1995–2011
• Catalog numbers: KM# 35; Schön# 34; SIEG# 80; Numista N#1547

About the Issuer

• Issuing entity: Central Bank of Iceland (Seðlabanki Íslands)
• Mint: Royal Mint, Llantrisant, United Kingdom (1968–date)
• Currency: New króna (1980–date)
• Country: Republic of Iceland (1944–date)

Five coins. Five creatures. Four guardians. One island that has always known exactly what it is — mythologically, ecologically, and economically. Own the complete set.