How to Identify the 20 Kroner

Start With the Design and Dates

The quickest confirmation is a crown set above a marguerite daisy flower, with the paired dates 1940 and 1990 flanking the design and 20 KRONER below. That daisy-and-crown motif with twin dates identifies the 50th-birthday commemorative specifically, as opposed to a standard circulation 20 Kroner carrying a single year and a plain crowned design.

Read Both Faces

One face shows the portrait of Queen Margrethe II with an inscription naming her as Queen of Denmark; the other carries the crown, daisy, dates, and value. If the coin bears the Queen's portrait but shows no daisy and no 1940/1990 date pair, you are likely looking at the ordinary 20 Kroner circulation type rather than this birthday issue.

Confirm Metal, Size, and Edge

The coin is aluminum-bronze, so it has a warm golden-brass tone, not the white color or heft of silver. Expect a mid-size circulating coin roughly 27 mm in diameter and near 9 grams. A useful diagnostic is the edge: this type has a pattern of alternating smooth and reeded segments rather than a fully reeded or fully plain edge, which helps distinguish it at a glance.

Rule Out Look-Alikes

Denmark's standard 20 Kroner circulation coins share the same denomination, metal, and Margrethe II portrait, so do not rely on the portrait or the value alone. Confirm the daisy-over-crown reverse and the 1940/1990 dates before concluding it is the birthday commemorative. Also separate it from Denmark's other base-metal denominations, which differ in size and design.

Authentication Notes

As an inexpensive modern base-metal coin, it is not a common target for high-value counterfeiting, but condition still governs value. Judge the sharpness of the crown, daisy, and portrait, and look for even, original surfaces. Avoid cleaning: polished or wiped coins lose collector value, and undisturbed aluminum-bronze with a natural tone is the most reliable sign of an unaltered piece.