Greenlandic Coins

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Erik the Red
Greenland was originally discovered and settled in the 10th Century by a Norseman known as Erik the Red, who had been driven to set out for the rumoured land after being outlawed for murder in Iceland (returning to his native Norway was not an option either, as he had been exiled from there for the same crime). According to the Saga, he named the island Greenland to encourage others to settle on the South-western Coast with him. The Norse Settlements established by Erik the Red and his successors lasted until the early 15th Century, when the Norse settlements mysteriously disappeared, probably due to a combination of increased cold weather (which the Norse never learned to adapt to), starvation, loss of contact with Europe and hostile Inuit attacks.

Re-colonisation
The old Norse settlements that once existed on Greenland disappeared into legend. In 1721, a Frederick IV, King of Denmark-Norway gave permission for a mission to be established in Greenland, in the hope of finding surviving Norse settlements and converting them to Lutheranism. He did not find any Norsemen, but did establish a successful mission amongst the Inuit. As the 18th Century progressed, more settlers began to arrive from Scandinavia.

Danish Colony
In 1814, Denmark-Norway found itself on the losing side of the Napoleonic Wars, and was broken up. Norway was ceded to Sweden, and Danish core was re-established as the Kingdom of Denmark. Although Greenland, along with Iceland and other islands, had traditionally been considered as Norwegian colonies, these were nevertheless ceded to Denmark.
During World War II, American Troops moved into Greenland following the Nazi Occupation of Denmark, in order to prevent the Nazis from using Greenland as a base. Greenland's temporary detachment from Denmark brought demands for greater autonomy once the war had ended, and finally, in 1953, Greenland was disestablished as a colony and made into an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Home Rule
Greenland was now represented in the Danish Folkting (Parliament), but demands for further autonomy grew after Denmark voted to join the EEC (which a majority in Greenland opposed) in 1973. In 1978, Greenland successfully lobbied for further autonomy, and in 1982, a referendum was held on whether to stay in the EEC, and a majority voted to take Greenland out of the EEC, a process which was completed in 1985.
In 2008, a further referendum voted to increase the powers of the local Greenlandic government, and Greenlanders are now considered a people separate to the Danish under international law.

Coinage of Greenland
The first coins used in Greenland are likely to have been Scandinavian pennies based on Anglo-Saxon issues. When Greenland was re-established as a colony, Danish currency was introduced as sole legal tender. Today, the Danish Krone is still used in Greenland.

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