Currency of Estonia 50 krooni banknote 1994
Bank of Estonia - Eesti Pank
In 1993, a decision was made to introduce a new denomination – a 50-kroon banknote. The design of the banknote was ordered from Vladimir Taiger; no public competition was held to find a design. The banknote series was printed by the British printing house Thomas De La Rue and Company Ltd in 1994.
Obverse: The front side of the banknote features RUDOLF TOBIAS (1873–1918), a composer, organist and choirmaster. Tobias was born in Käina, Hiiumaa, and he was the first Estonian to get a professional education as a composer and organist at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. Tobias helped raise musical composition in Estonia to a professional level. One of his most well-known works is the oratorio "Jonah's Mission", which was first delivered in Leipzig in 1909. To the right of the portrait, a portion of the Käina Church organ is presented. The organ bears the All Seeing Eye, which is most commonly related to Freemasonry. Nevertheless, this kind of radiant eye is also a Christian symbol.
Signatures: Governor Siim Kallas and Member of the Board Raimund Hagelberg.
Reverse: The back side of the banknote depicts a view of the Estonia Opera House built in 1913. The architects of the theatre and concert building are A. Lindgren and V. Lönn. The building was envisaged as a multi-functional centre of culture and business where two vast side halls were linked with a lower middle section. Business rooms and a restaurant were situated on the ground floor of the lower part of the building. A casino, theatre and concert halls were on the first floor. The Estonia Opera House was severely damaged in World War II. After the war, the building was restored based on a project by A. Kotli. The restored and expanded building was 1.4 times larger than the original one. On the south side, the Art Noveau and classicistic styles were kept. The facade facing Pärnu road differs from the original – it is less monumental.
Watermark depicting three lions; it can be seen when the banknote is held against the light. The watermark is divided into two parts on the edges of the banknote: one displays the head, forelegs and body of the lions, and the other, their hind legs.
Estonian kroon banknotes
Bank of Estonia - Eesti Pank