Norway's New Artsy Currency Will Leave You Pixelated
Norway's new banknotes incorporate modern and traditional elements.
![Norges Bank announced the winning motifs in a contest to redesign Norway's banknotes, including a colorfully pixelated reverse submitted by Snohetta Design.](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Business/ht_norway_currency_100_reverse_snohetta_design_jc_141008_16x9_992.jpg?w=1600)
— -- When you're a European country that's not in the European Union, you might as well create an amazing currency wrought from a competition of Nordic designers.
Norway's central bank Norges Bank held a competition this past spring for its new banknote series that will issued in 2017. The theme was "The Sea," which is appropriate for a country with Viking roots.
Eight participants were chosen for the final round, judged by a member of the bank and five external professionals.
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Business/ht_norway_currency_100_stacked_jc_141008_4x3_992.jpg)
Two proposals stood out: Ripple Effects by Enzo Finger, and Norwegian Living Space by The Metric System and Terje Tønnessen, the bank said in a statement. But Enzo Finger's proposal emerged as the winner and the bank said yesterday it "is of the opinion that this proposal communicates the theme in a surprising way with considerable artistic flair."
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Business/ht_norway_currency_500_stacked_jc_141008_4x3_992.jpg)
A combination of two proposals will be used. One side of the note will be based on the proposal from The Metric System, Norwegian Living Space; and the reverse sides will be the pixel motifs submitted by Snøhetta Design, Beauty of Boundaries, which "give the notes both a traditional and a modern expression," the bank said. The design isn't finalized but it will include security features.
![](https://s.abcnews.com/images/Business/ht_norway_currency_1000_stacked_jc_141008_4x3_992.jpg)
The rejected proposals, which include beautiful artistic creations of the ocean, fish and landscapes, are seen in a bank brochure and are on exhibit in Oslo until Oct. 26.