• Sweden edition

Republicans call for elk to dethrone cash king

Published: 16 Mar 10 14:16 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/25556/20100316/

The Swedish Republican Association (Republikanska Föreningen) has called on the central bank to ditch the royals on the country's coins and bank notes in favour of majestic beasts and giants of science and literature.

In an open letter to the Riksbank, the anti-monarchy group said the currency ought to feature "people and things that represent modern-day Sweden" rather than kings and queens who "have no place in a democracy".

"As an example, I would personally like to see Astrid Lindgren or Alfred Nobel on our notes and coins," said association chairman Peter Althin in a statement.

The well-known defence lawyer then made reference to the monetary suitability of the ever-regal elk, or moose as the animal is known in North America.

"The king of the forest would also look better on our money than Gustav Vasa or Carl Gustaf Bernadotte," he said.

The board of the Riksbank meets on Wednesday to discuss an overhaul of Sweden's coins and notes.

With Crown Princess Victoria's marriage to luxury gym owner Daniel Westling fast approaching, the republicans have ramped up their efforts to dislodge the monarchy. But the group remains very much in the minority, with 74 percent of Swedes expressing their continued support for the monarchy in a 2009 poll.

Paul O'Mahony (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6513)

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15:13 March 16, 2010 by Tommysixtoes
Why not keep the king on one side and put a moose on the other? That's what they do in Canada.
15:29 March 16, 2010 by VicTaulic
Honor dynamite with Alfred Nobel, tennis with Bjorn Borg, cryptic B&W films Ingmar Bergman, skiing with the great Ingmar Stenmark, and hot blond babes with a thousand possible choices.
15:34 March 16, 2010 by livinginsweden
Just put the Peace sign on the coin .... for get human beings......

ha ha
15:55 March 16, 2010 by kaze
They do have stuff on the other side to the king.

Its just republicans being republicans. Very very slow news day
16:40 March 16, 2010 by Twiceshy
in usa we only put dead guys on money. hummm....
20:12 March 16, 2010 by sissygirl
Dead women too... Susan B. Anthony & Sacagawea (can't remember spelling)
20:19 March 16, 2010 by Mack
@Why not keep the king on one side and put a moose on the other? That's what they do in Canada.

On Canadian coins is what we call an Elk which is not the same as a Moose. It's proper name is Wapiti (Cervus canadensis) but most Canadians don't know this name. The moose is not on any of our coins... only a Loon, Beaver, Polar Bear and Wapiti.
23:48 March 16, 2010 by wenddiver
@Mack- that would be nice for the US a loon on one side and one of our trash politicians on the other.

A moose and a King invites comparisons that might be unflattering to the King. How can you insure future kings will always look better than the current moose?

Better leave the King there and not invite comparisons. Also cheaper, because no change is necessary.
01:39 March 17, 2010 by O.S.
Maybe its a good idea for new coins.

I guess Elks lived in Sweden long before anybody.
07:27 March 17, 2010 by izbz
Doesn't matter whether King or moose is on currency as long as the value of currency goes up. As far as I am concern you can even put Ultraman or Batman if Swedish kronor exchange rate is higher.
08:13 March 17, 2010 by marionettes.show
@izbz Haha..can't be more reasonable
09:52 March 17, 2010 by Angusthefirst
How about a fried sparrow instead of an elk in honour of one of the knugens many, and possibly worst, gaffes?
10:14 March 17, 2010 by peropaco
@izbz. Ultraman? Thats going way back in the days.. LOL
11:50 March 17, 2010 by Audrian
The use of cash money as medium of exchange might disappear faster than you think. Already it is an insignifican proportion of the total money supply in developed economies. Till then let the royalities enjoy the limelight. It is a little compromise to make.
12:32 March 19, 2010 by RobinHood
Great one Angus, Let's hear from Malcolmt now.
20:04 March 19, 2010 by malcolmt
What would you like to hear RobinHood?
21:48 March 19, 2010 by mark jennings
Put anything/anyone on there, put a bloody hamster on there if you want to instead of that family of free-loading parasites, surely someone can come up with worthy human beings that have contributed to Swedish society instead of sponging off it at every opportunity !

Cross ? Me ? Nooo ! I,ll be waving a flag when Victoria gets married, we all should - we,re paying for the wedding !!
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