Press releases

The Royal Mint’s 2004 Coin Set will be available in a new design and two different versions: an ordinary version and an especially fine version, both including a medal. The medal, depicting the Battle of Køge Bay, is a copy of the largest Danish medal ever minted by the Royal Mint.

The 2004 Coin Set includes the Royal Mint’s medal in Nordic gold, the seven ordinary coins in circulation and the 20-krone commemorative coin issued to celebrate the wedding of Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary. The coins of the Coin Set have a more distinct embossment than the ordinary coins in circulation. They are presented in special packaging, and as from this year in a new design. The 2004 Coin Set is minted in a maximum edition of 35,000.

The especially fine (proof) version of the 2004 Coin Set includes the Royal Mint’s medal in silver and the seven coins in circulation in proof quality. The coins are presented in a specially made box. The proof version is minted in a maximum edition of 3,000.

The coin sets do not include the year’s thematic coins with towers as the common theme. Instead, a full set of thematic coins will be issued once the tower series is complete.

The coin sets will be available from banks and coin dealers as from 25 October 2004. Some banks and coin dealers already take orders now. The recommended retail price is DKK 200 for the ordinary version and DKK 875 for the proof version.

Any remaining coin sets will be sold from 25 October 2004 from Danmarks Nationalbank, Cashier Services, Havnegade 5, DK-1093 Copenhagen K, opening hour's: Monday-Friday 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.

For further information about the 2004 Coin Set, please go to Danmarks Nationalbank’s website at www.nationalbanken.dk and select Notes and coins/Coin set. Pictures can be downloaded from Press room/Photogallery/Coins.

According to a survey conducted by Danmarks Nationalbank, turnover in the Danish foreign-exchange market increased by 76 per cent from April 2001 to April 2004, equivalent to USD 41 billion per banking day. Derivatives turnover (foreign-exchange and interest-rate derivatives) has risen by 90 per cent since 2001, equivalent to USD 12 billion per banking day. Allowing for the weakening of the dollar since 2001, turnover has risen by 52 per cent in the foreign-exchange market and by 53 per cent in the derivatives market.

The survey forms part of a triennial international survey of foreign-exchange and derivatives market activity conducted under the auspices of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). The Danish figures are collected from seven banks that account for more than 95 per cent of the turnover covered by the survey.

Regarding the foreign-exchange market, the rise in turnover is a departure from the declining trend shown by previous surveys. Turnover in FX swaps, which is traditionally used as a money-market product, increased particularly.

The increased turnover in the derivatives market confirms the trend shown by previous surveys. The increase is related especially to the greater use of euro-denominated contracts.

For further information please go to Danmarks Nationalbank's website on www.nationalbanken.dk and select Statistics, Download Statistics – Publications.

The results of the global survey can be found at: www.bis.org/publ/rpfx04.htm