To mark the bicentenary of Hans Christian Andersen, Danmarks Nationalbank is issuing a new series of thematic coins. The first in the series is issued on 31 March 2005 and is a 10-krone coin in three dif-ferent editions – a gold coin, a fine silver coin and an ordinary 10-krone coin. On the reverse of the first Hans Christian Andersen coin, an adult swan is studying its reflection in the lake at Bregentved

Manor, where Hans Christian Andersen was inspired to write his famous fairy tale "The Ugly Duckling". The artist is the sculptor Hans Pauli Olsen. The face of the Hans Christian Andersen coins shows a profile of the Queen by the sculptor, Professor Mogens Møller.

The gold coin will be issued in an edition not exceeding 7,000, while the silver coin will be issued in an edition of up to 75,000. The ordi-nary 10-krone coin will be issued in an edition of 1.2 million. All Hans Christian Andersen coins are legal tender and can be exchanged at Danmarks Nationalbank at face value.
The Hans Christian Andersen thematic coins can be purchased from banks and coin dealers as from 31 March 2005. Some banks and coin dealers already take orders. The recommended retail prices including Danish VAT are kr. 2,000 for the gold coin and kr. 200 for the silver coin.