27 January 2005 Ref.: 2005-04E Landet Church adorns new thematic coin On 28 January 2005, Danmarks Nationalbank issues the sixth in its series of thematic 20-krone coins with specially chosen Danish towers as the motif on the reverse. Seen through chestnut leaves from the grave of Elvira Madigan and Six- ten Sparre, the tower of Landet Church on the island of Tåsinge reaches towards the sky on the reverse of the new thematic coin. Landet Church is a traditional Danish village church, built around 1150-1200 in the Age of the Valdemars, with the tower and porch added later. The church tower was built in 1634. The sculptor Øivind Nygaard is the artist behind the tower motif from Landet Church. The hearts and pistol that Øivind Nygaard has woven into the chestnut leaves around the tower symbolise the tragic love story of Elvira Madigan and Sixten Sparre. "In addition to showing a Danish church tower, the pictorial metaphors seen on the coin, combined with the view of the tower of Landet Church, are intended to tell a story and interpret the history and mythology of the church," Øivind Nygaard ex- plains. The Landet Church tower coin is issued as a 20-krone coin in an edition of 1.2 million. It is of the same size and alloy as the ordinary 20-krone coin in circulation. The face of the coin shows a profile of the Queen by the sculptor, Professor Mogens Møller. The new thematic coin can be purchased from banks and Danmarks Na- tionalbank from 28 January 2005. The next tower coin is expected to be issued in the autumn of 2005. Pictures can be downloaded from www.nationalbanken.dk – Press room, Photogallery. For further information please contact Information Desk on tel.: (+45) 33 63 70 00. Danmarks Nationalbank • Havnegade 5 • DK-1093 Copenhagen K • www.nationalbanken.dk Tlf: +45 33 63 63 63 • Fax: +45 33 63 71 03 • [email protected] .