Jan Petersen, the medallist

The medallist Jan Petersen, who comments:

"The task of designing a 'historical' coin was extremely interesting. My original idea for the portrait on the commemorative coin was a queen's portrait in bracteate style, i.e. like the portraits depicted on much of the renowned bracteate jewellery. The Queen wears a simple hat that resembles the hair styles typical of a bracteate portrait.

To achieve a deeper engraving the portrait is laid below the face of the coin. This technique has not previously been applied to Danish coins, but it results in a far better perspective and gives the portrait more depth than the slightly flat portraits usually seen on coins. The motif on the reverse is a Medieval crown with a cross.

It is typical of the Danish coins issued in the late Middle Ages, when coins often bore symbols of the King and the Church."