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We gratefully acknowledge the late Walt Jellum who provided many images and background information used in this section.

Norway has been a country since the early Chieftains [now called Viking Kings] unified Norway. The Vikings are credited with being the first Europeans to have visited North America.  Norway is also the home of  Trygve Lie the first Secretary General of the United Nations who served from its founding in 1946 until 1952. Norway has been ruled by Denmark, Sweden and Nazi Germany.  After the Black Plague the royal lines of both Norway and Sweden died out and the three countries, including Denmark, joined a loose Union under the Danish Royal line.  Sweden very soon left the Union and started a new royal line.  Norway remained in the union with Denmark, accepting the Danish kings as their ruler.  Considerable autonomy continued with Norway issuing their own coinage, etc. 

The Napoleonic Wars then caused much political and economic turmoil so at its end, the Allies separated Norway from a very weak Denmark and imposed Swedish rule.  Norway was ceded to Sweden with the Treaty of Kiel in 1814. After writing their own constitution on May 17, 1814 they thought that without Denmark, they would be independent.  Norway continued to have some autonomy, but now did not accept Swedish rule when they felt independence was possible.  Danish rule was not forced upon them, but accepted.  Then in 1905 they gained full independence from Sweden.  From the Viking age on Norway was viewed as a separate country, even though they may have been ruled by Denmark and Sweden.

Established in 1816, the first banknote issues of the Norges Bank occurred in 1817. The bank, as well as advanced Norway banknote collectors refer to the modern issues as follows: