Norwegians who regularly travel over the border to go shopping in Sweden, where prices are lower, need to use up any supplies they may have of Swedish cash. Sweden is in the process of introducing a whole new series of currency and coins, and some existing bills will be phased out fairly soon.
Newspaper Aftenposten reported that 20-, 50-, 200- and 1,000- kronor notes will start circulating in October, featuring such Swedish luminaries as the late author Astrid Lindgren, folk singer Evert Taube, film director Ingmar Bergman and diplomat Dag Hammarskjöld, who also served as secretary general of the UN.
Actress Greta Garbo and opera singer Birgitt Nilsson will adorn the new 100- and 500-kronor notes that are to follow next year, and new coins will be rolled out as well.
The current, soon-to-be old currency will start becoming invalid as soon as June of next year, according to signs posted in increasing numbers of Swedish stores and restaurants. The old 20-, 50- and 1,000-kronor notes won’t be accepted after June 30, 2016 and can only be exchanged at certain banks for two months after that.
The next expiration date for the remaining currency is set for June 30, 2017, when the current 100- and 500-kroner notes will no longer be accepted. Both those notes and old coins, however, can be exchanged for the new versions until June 30, 2018.
Norwegians who aren’t planning any trips to Sweden in the near future can try exchanging any Swedish cash they may have at their local bank or post office, but will likely be met with a fee of NOK 75.
newsinenglish.no staff
