2016-11-14 Mon

This Icelandic 5,000 króna banknote depicts a woman named Ragnheidur Jonsdottir. She was the daughter of the famous Icelandic Roman Catholic priest, Jón Arason and the wife of two bishops (though not at the same time).

Her first husband had been married twice previously and the picture on the bill is based on a picture painted in Copenhagen in which the bishop Gisli Porlaksson stands in the middle of all three of his wives. All three are wearing the big hat and white collar. Ragnheiour was very skillful at crafts and taught embroidery. Various things that she made or owned are on display at Iceland’s National Museum.

She wore some pretty interesting headgear from the looks of things. She is most famous for the embroidered altar cloths she made for a church. The eight-pointed stars on the background represent the pattern on the altar cloth she made for Laufas church in northern Iceland.

She was chosen to be on the 5000 kronur note as a noteworthy woman who made large contributions to Icelandic society in historical times.

Although today, Iceland’s economy struggle with inflation. Hence the country has been considering opting for a foreign currency. If Iceland does make the move, this banknote could have little value except as a collector’s item.