2002 Denmark 20Kr UNC Coin "Aarhus Tower"

This is the first coin in a new Danish thematic circulating coin series intended to introduce new Danish artists to coin design and increase interest in coins among the general public. Towers were chosen as the main theme of the program because of their national and historical symbolism. The reverse shows an image of Aarhus City Hall tower, designed by artist Lis Nogel. The obverse portrait of Queen Margrethe II was modeled by Professor Mogens Møller. Minted by the Danish Royal Mint, the coin carries the heart mint mark of the Copenhagen mint.

Aarhus - Denmark's second largest city - is located on the east coast of the Danish mainland, Jutland. Designed by architect Arne Jacobsen and his colleague Erik Møller, the City Hall tower was inaugurated on July 2, 1941 for the city's 500th anniversary. Considered one of the masterpieces of Danish functional architecture, this 60 meter tall, 11 floor modern landmark, featuring the characteristic clock dials and a façade of Norwegian marble, is today a protected national structure. This coin issue also marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Arne Jacobsen (Feb. 11, 1902-March 3, 1971), Denmark's most prominent architect and designer. Jacobsen was interested in the idea of "total design", depending on attention to detail, appropriateness of material, and the melding of traditional and functional techniques to generate concept and form. Involvement at every level - from the architecture of the building to the design of the forks - characterized his work, and resulted in some of his most famous designs. Jacobsen established his international reputation primarily in furniture design, creating chairs that have become international design classics. In addition to the Aarhus City Hall tower, Jacobsen also designed the National Bank of Denmark, the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, and St. Catherine's College at Oxford, among many other extraordinary buildings. This coin was issued by the National Bank of Denmark on December 2, 2002, and was struck by the Danish Royal Mint in Aluminum bronze (Cu92 Al6 Ni2) featuring a diameter of 27.0 mm and a weight of 9.3 g. The edge is interrupted milled. The mintage of this coin is max. 1 million coins for circulation, but 3,000 coins have been specially packed by the Royal Norwegian Mint.