Iceland, 1984 AD., 10 Kronur, KM 29.

Iceland, 1984 AD.,
10 Kronur (27,5 mm / 8,07 g), copper-nickel, 8,0 g. (?) theor. mint weight, mintage ? , axes medal alignment ↑↑ (0°), reeded edge,
Obv.: TÍU KRÓNUR / ÍSLAND 1984 , central circle divided into four parts, depicting a bird, a dragon, a bull and a giant; value in words above, country and date below.
Rev.: 10 KR , four Capelin fishes swimming left, value above.
KM 29 .

Year / Mintage / Details
1984 / 10,000,000 / KM 29.1
1984 / ? / KM 29.2 (nickel clad steel, 8 g, 24.5 mm, error coin, flan of Indian rupee)
1987 / 7,500,000 / KM 29.1
1994 / 2,500,000 / KM 29.1

The four parts of the central circle depict the "Landvættir" guardian spirits, used in the Seal of Iceland: dragon = east, bird = north, bull = west, rock giant = south) .
The capelin or caplin, Mallotus villosus, is a small forage fish of the smelt family found in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. In summer, it grazes on dense swarms of plankton at the edge of the ice shelf. Larger capelin also eat a great deal of krill and other crustaceans. Whales, seals, cod, squid, mackerel, beluga whales and seabirds all prey on capelin, in particular during the spawning season of the capelin while it migrates southwards. Capelin spawn on sandy beaches and sandy bottom at the age of 2–6 years. Males reach 20 cm in length, while females are up to 25 cm long. They are olive-colored dorsally, shading to silver on sides. Males have a translucent ridge on both sides of their bodies. The ventral aspects of the males iridesce reddish at the time of spawn.
Capelin in the Barents Sea and around Iceland are stocks that perform extensive seasonal migrations. Barents Sea capelin migrate during winter and early spring to the coast of northern Norway (Finnmark) and the Kola Peninsula (Russia) for spawning. During summer and autumn capelin migrate north- and north-eastward for feeding.

Icelandic capelin move inshore in large schools to spawn and migrate in spring and summer to feed in the plankton-rich oceanic area between Iceland, Greenland, and Jan Mayen. Capelin distribution and migration is linked with ocean currents and water masses. Around Iceland, maturing capelin usually undertake extensive northward feeding migrations in spring and summer and the return migration takes place in September to November. The spawning migration starts from north of Iceland in December to January.