Bank Notes from Denmark 1695 - 1874

The very first bank notes in Denmark were printed in 1695 for use in the Norwegian city, Bergen. Norway was then a part of Denmark until 1814.

A businessman lent a sum of money from the Danish king, Christian the 5th, and the loan was payed by using paper money. The numbers and signatures are all written by hand, in addition there are 4 seals, and to make the bank notes more reliable, one of the 4 seals is the kings seal.

The 3 other seals are made by the businessman and 2 important people from the treasury of the king.

Because of the Big Nordic War (1709 - 1720) Denmark itself issued its first bank notes in 1713. The bank notes helped to pay for the expencive war. Later the paper money were used as they do today.

80 years would past before Denmark got into problems with the monetary system. Again it was a war, this time with the United Kingdom. In 1813 Denmark went broke because of the war. Many bank notes also in very small values had been issued.

A new monetary system was based on silver and on the land. The new money was named Rigsbankskilling and Rigsbankdaler.

The word Daler comes from the German - Thaler - and is the same as dollar. 1 Rigsbankdaler was the same as 96 Rigsbankskilling.

N.B. The banknotes on this site are reproduced with permission of the
Danish National Bank