Sweden's Riksbank on Tuesday released the long-awaited designs of new banknotes featuring the likes of Greta Garbo, Ingmar Bergman, Astrid Lindgren, and other cultural giants of the 20th century. The notes were designed by Göran Österlund, whose colorful "Journey of
Culture" (Kulturresan) design was selected from among eight finalists. Thursday's presentation of the new designs by the Riksbank comes a year
after the bank first announced the six 20th century Swedish icons whose
profiles would grace the new bills. The face of Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman will adorn the new 200
kronor note, while children's author Astrid Lindgren will be the new
face on the 20 kronor note, replacing the popular Selma Lagerlöf. Former United Nations secretary-general Dag Hammarskjöld will feature on
the 1,000 kronor note, opera singer Birgit Nilsson on the 500 kronor,
film star Greta Garbo on the 100 kronor, and musician Evert Taube on the
50 kronor note. "It's been a difficult but stimulating task to pick a winner. All the
contestants submitted ambitious and well worked suggestions, but in the
end we were captivated by 'The Cultural Journey'," said Peter Egardt, a
member of the Riksbank board of directors and chair of the banknote
design selection jury, in a statement. "The overall impression is a beautiful and user-friendly series of bills
which are built on a well-weighed balance between something new and
Swedish banknote tradition." Österlund explained that his winning design as was meant to "let the
bills take us on a journey from the Öresund Bridge in the south to the
Treriksröset in the north," referencing the "Three Country Cairn" where
the borders of Finland, Sweden, and Norway meet. According to the Riksbank, notes bearing the new design are expected to enter general circulation in 2015.
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