2 September 2011 marked the 200th anniversary of King Frederick VI’s assent to the founding of a university in Norway. Over a century and a half, Norwegians fought to have their own university, first in 1661, later in the 1760s and 1770s and with particular intensity in 1793-95, but each time their demands were rejected by the King in Copenhagen. When King Frederick VI gave his assent in September 1811, the exact location of the university was yet to be determined. Kongsberg was considered, but in spring 1812, Christiania (now Oslo) was finally chosen.

In issuing the coin, Norges Bank emphasised that the occasion was not geographically limited to Oslo but commemorated the beginnings of higher education and science and scholarship in a broad sense. In 2011 Norway had eight universities, with university-level education offered in all parts of the country.

Design and technical data:

• Diameter: 24.0 mm
• Thickness: 2.0 mm
• Weight: 6.8 g
• Alloy: 81% Cu, 10% Zn, 9% Ni
• Edge: Alternate plain/milled

Obverse (heads side):

The obverse features a portrait of H.M. King Harald V facing right. Around the portrait is the inscription: HARALD V NORGES KONGE. At the lower left edge of the portrait is the artist’s signature, IAR. Below the portrait is the year 2011 with Det Norske Myntverkets (Mint of Norway’s) mintmark, the crossed pick and hammer, placed between the first two and last two digits.

Reverse (tails side):

The design on the reverse features a Greek Ionic column, a classic – as well as classical – university symbol as well as the text (UNIVERSITET), the anniversary year (200 ÅR), as well as the coin’s denomination (10 KR). Under the column to the left is the designer’s signature, EF. The column is depicted as a composite of two elements. The right half is a classic, naturalistic interpretation, while the left half shows the column in a more modernised form. Together the two elements are intended to express the span of time.

The coin's obverse was designed by Ingrid Austlid Rise, designer at Det Norske Myntverket AS (Mint of Norway). The reverse was created by the designer Enzo Finger. 10-krone coins in the standard design were not issued in 2011.