Norway Banknotes 50 Kroner banknote 1984
Central Bank of Norway - Norges Bank
Obverse: Portrait of Aasmund Olavsson Vinje.
Reverse: Detail from the doorway of the Hylestad stave church - The scene shows Sirgurd slaying the dragon with a sword.
Issued 1985-1997. No longer valid from 28 January 2008. Number issued: 204 280 000. Approximately 135 x 67 mm.
Norwegian Banknotes - Norway Paper Money
1977-1998 Issue
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Aasmund Olavsson Vinje
Aasmund Olavsson Vinje (6 April 1818 - 30 July 1870) was a famous Norwegian poet and journalist who is remembered for poetry, travel writing, and his pioneering use of Landsmål (now known as Nynorsk).
Vinje founded the periodical Dølen (The dales-man) in 1858, in which he published travel accounts, and editorial comments on art, language and politics that serve as records for the period in which he lived. Dølen ceased publication in 1870.
Vinje did much to articulate the difference between city and rural life in Norway and was among the sophisticated exponents of Norwegian romantic nationalism. Despite this, he was also known for his critical scepticism and double views (No: tvisyn) - that is, he advocated to embrace both pro and contra arguments to avoid confirmation bias. He was politically active to the extent that the government fired him from his work as an attorney for criticizing its foreign policy.
Among his writings, the Ferdaminni fraa Sumaren 1860 (A remembrance of a voyage in the summer 1860, not translated), rank in high esteem in Norwegian literature, describing a journey from Oslo to Trondheim in order to cover the coronation of King Charles in the Nidarosdomen cathedral for his periodical. It can be seen as a program for Vinje and the Dølen that the description deals more warm-hearted with his meetings with ordinary people along the journey, than with the royalties he encountered at the coronation.
In 1863 he wrote A Norseman's View of Britain and the British, which was translated into Norwegian ten years later. Some of Vinje's poetry is still very much alive in Norway, especially the poem Ved Rundarne (English: At Rondane), with its tune by Edvard Grieg.
Dying from stomach cancer, Vinje decided to spend his last days in the countryside. He died as a guest of his friend, minister (later bishop) Anton Christian Bang at Gran in Hadeland on 30 July 1870 and is buried nearby in the churchyard of the Sister churches at Granavollen (Søsterkirkene). In 1873, a large monument with a bust of Vinjes by Brynjulf Bergslien was erected at the site.
Today Aasmund Vinje paths exist in several Norwegian cities and towns including Oslo, Stavanger, Trondheim, Moss, Fjellhamar, Corby, Hamar, Gjøvik, Rjukan, Skien and Mandal.
Carving from Hylestad stave church doorway
The Hylestad stave church was a stave church located in Setesdal, Norway. The church was estimated to have been built in the late 12th to early 13th century and was demolished in the 17th century. Some of the intricate wood carvings from the church doorway were saved and incorporated into other buildings. They are now on display at the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo.
The carvings show several scenes from the legend of Sigurd Fåvnesbane. A section of one of these carvings in which Sigurd kills Regin was the basis for a Norwegian postal stamp.
Engravings - There are seven scenes from the Sigurd legend carved on the two door panels, with three scenes on the first panel and four scenes on the second panel.
Sigurd slays Fafnir the dragon
The scene shows Sirgurd slaying the dragon with a sword.
After forging the sword, Sigurd and Regin travel to Gnita-Heath in order to find Fafnir the dragon and take his treasure. There they dig "a pit in the path used by Fafnir," and then he crawled into it. When Fafnir came to the water pit Sigurd emerged and "thrust his sword" into Fafnir, killing him.