It was minted as a private contract instigated by a parliamentary committee of the Icelandic `Althing' (parliament) by the Saxony State Mint at Muldenhutten to commemorate 1,000 years of the `Althing'. It is referenced in Krause Mischler as KM-M3. Sadly, this one exhibits what looks to be an attemted piercing. Still a nice item and rarely seen these days.