5 Krónur - Christian X Landsbanki Íslands

Gerhard Heilmann is better known to ornithologists than to banknote collectors — he was a Danish artist and amateur scientist whose 1926 book on the origin of birds remained a landmark text for decades. His involvement in designing this Landsbanki series is a genuine curiosity, the work of a man whose primary reputation had nothing to do with currency.

Danmarks Nationalbanks Seddeltrykkeriet printed Icelandic notes throughout the interwar period, a practical arrangement given Iceland's union with Denmark and the absence of domestic printing capacity. The constitutional shift to a kingdom in personal union under Christian X came in 1918, so by the time this note circulated, Iceland had nominal sovereignty but still relied entirely on Copenhagen for its paper currency production.