Iceland Coins 50 Kronur 1968 50th Anniversary Sovereignty
Commemorative issue: 50 Kronur 50th Anniversary of Sovereignty. Sovereignty began with an agreement with Denmark in 1918. The commemorative was struck in nickel in circulation strike condition.Obverse: Icelandic parliament building in Reykjavík.
Lettering: 1968 1 DESEMBER 1918 FULLVELDI ÍSLANDS
Engraver: Magnusson Sigurdsson
Reverse: Face value at the center, country name and denomination in top and low.
Lettering: ÍSLAND 50 KRÓNUR
Edge: Smooth.
Year: 1968.
Value: 50 Krónur.
Metal: Nickel.
Weight: 12.60 g.
Diameter: 30 mm.
Thickness: 2.2 mm.
Shape: Round.
Icelandic independence movement 1814–1918
In 1814, following the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark-Norway was broken up into two separate kingdoms via the Treaty of Kiel but Iceland remained a Danish dependency. Throughout the 19th century, the country's climate continued to grow colder, resulting in mass emigration to the New World, particularly to the region of Gimli, Manitoba in Canada, which was sometimes referred to as New Iceland. About 15,000 people emigrated, out of a total population of 70,000.
A national consciousness arose in the first half of the 19th century, inspired by romantic and nationalist ideas from mainland Europe. An Icelandic independence movement took shape in the 1850s under the leadership of Jón Sigurðsson, based on the burgeoning Icelandic nationalism inspired by the Fjölnismenn and other Danish-educated Icelandic intellectuals. In 1874, Denmark granted Iceland a constitution and limited home rule. This was expanded in 1904, and Hannes Hafstein served as the first Minister for Iceland in the Danish cabinet.
Full independence was granted in 1918 through the Danish-Icelandic Act of Union. This was followed by the severance of all ties to Denmark with the declaration of the republic in 1944.