COINS & CURRENCY OF
EAST EUROPE

A selection of historic coins and banknotes from pre-communist, communist and post-communist Eastern Europe.

COIN OF THE NAZI PUPPET STATE OF BOHEMIA & MORAVIA

Nazi Germany invaded Czechoslovakia in 1938, splitting the country in three.  In one portion they created a puppet state called the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.  Coins were minted only from 1941 to 1944. The coins all feature the Bohemian Lion on the obverse.  The 1 Korun has the denomination and linden branches on the reverse.   The coins were minted in the Lysa nad Labem Metal Furniture Factory. The coins are zinc, so may have some white spots.  It is an historic set from a nation that existed briefly during World War II.

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CHRIST FEATURED ON SILVER GROSH OF THE LAST MEDIEVAL KING OF BULGARIA

Ivan Sratsimir was the last king of the medieval Bulgarian Kingdom.  He reigned from Vidin from 1356 until he was captured and killed by the Ottoman Turks in 1396.   One side of this 16mm silver Grosch depicts the bust of Christ, blessing with his right hand and holding the Gospel in his left.  To his right and left is the Christogram "IC – XC".  The other side depicts the king seated on his throne holding a scepter in his right hand.  The coin shows little if any wear, but is rather crudely struck. 

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COINS OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF BULGARIA

After the defeat of the Ottomans in the Russo-Turkish War, the Treaty of Berlin established Bulgaria as a Principality under Ottoman sovereignty. In 1887 Ferdinand, a Prince from the German state of Saxe-Coburg Gotha, was selected as the second Prince of Bulgaria, after the throne had been turned down by other European princes.  In 1908 Bulgaria declared its full independence from the Ottoman Empire and Ferdinand took the title of Czar.  His desire to create a "new Byzantium" and aggressive foreign policy brought about Bulgaria's involvement in the two Balkan Wars in 1912 and 1913, then World War I in 1914, resulting in Bulgaria's defeat and Ferdinand's abdication in 1918.  These copper-nickel 10 and 20 Stotinki coins are dated 1906, while Bulgaria was still under Ottoman sovereignty.  The Bulgarian arms are on one side and the denomination and date within a wreath are on the other. 

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FIRST COINS OF COMMUNIST BULGARIA 

These seven coins are the first coins issued by Bulgaria following the bloody communist takeover at the end of World War II. Included are the 1951 dated 1, 3, 5, 10 and 25 Stotinki, the 1954 20 Stotinki and the 1959 50 Stotinki in Uncirculated condition. The coins show the denomination alongside a sprig of grain on one side and the Bulgarian arms on the other. With the exception of the 20 Stotinki, each of the coins were produced for only a single year

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SERBIAN KRAJINA & CROATIA AT WAR 

With the collapse of Yugoslavia, the Serbian portions of Croatia declared independence from Croatia, even before Croatia declared itself independent from Yugoslavia.  The Serbs formed the Republic of Serbian Krajina and had their capital at Knin.  A brutal war broke out, and both Croatia (Republika Hrvatska) and Serbian Krajina suffered from severe inflation as they tried to finance themselves by printing money.  Krajina was defeated in 1995 and reincorporated into Croatia.  From Serbian Kranina we have the 5,000,000 Dinara note dated 1993.   The note features the Knin fortress on a hill on one side, and the Serbian arms on the other.  The Croatian 50,000 Dinara and 100,000 Dinara are dated 1993.  Both feature Croatian astronomer, physicist, mathematician, and philosopher Roger Joseph Boscovich.  Boscovich is famous for his atomic theory.  In 1753 he discovered the absence of atmosphere on the Moon.  The reverse of the notes have the Statue of  "Glagolica Mother Croatia", a marble statue created in 1932 by artist Ivan Mestrovic. The sculpture is of a mother holding on her lap a stone tablet with “History of Croatians” engraved in the old Croatian script.  The original sculpture has been in a "temporary exhibition" in Belgrade, Serbia since 1934.  Serbia has refused to return the statue to Croatia.  A bronze copy is at Zagreb University in Croatia

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CROATIAN ASSOCIATION OF TECHNICAL CULTURE 75th ANNIVERSARY

Croatia commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Croatian Association of Technical Culture  (CATC) with this 2021 dated 12-sided bimetallic 25 Kuna coin.  The CATC is an association of technical, technical-hobbyist and local associations throughout Croatia with over 60,00 members. Member associations cover a wide range of endeavors including amateur radio, aeronautics, astronomy, canoeing, diving, photography, rocketry, ship modeling, sailing and many more.  It supports numerous science and technology related activities for youth.  One side of the coin depicts a cube from the CATC emblem superimposed on a printed circuit board and the dates 1946 2021.  The other side features the denomination with an image of a marten superimposed in the "25".   The denomination Kuna is derived from an old Croatian term for a marten pelt, which was used as money during medieval times.  The 32mm coin has a mintage of only 50,000 pieces. 

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CROATIA 2021 CHILDREN'S DAY COIN

Croatia celebrated International Children's Day, November 20, 2021 with this 32mm, 12-sided bi-metallic 25 Kuna coin.  The design is done in with child-like art and lettering.  The obverse includes a marten and the arms of Croatia.  The denomination Kuna is derived from the term for a marten pelt, which was used as money in medieval times. The reverse features a circle of children connected together around the outer rim, symbolizing their cooperation and togetherness.  The center includes the date, a house, an apple, the sun, a butterfly and flowers, symbolizing some of the needs of the child: a safe home, food and playing freely in the nature.   It is one of the few coins that is dated the exact day of issue.   It has a mintage of only 50,000 pieces.

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CROATIA'S CONTROVERSIAL NEW 2023 EURO COINS.

Croatia switched their currency to the Euro on January 1, 2023.  The designs of the new coins created controversy.  The bi-metallic 2 Euro features a map of Croatia.  The bi-metallic 1 Euro depicts a Marten.  Marten pelts, called a kuna, were used for money in medieval Croatia.  The original design for the 1 Euro coin used a photograph of a marten without permission.  Serbia objected to Nikola Tesla appearing on the 10, 20 and 50 Eurocent coins, claiming Tesla was Serbian.  Tesla was born in what is now Croatia to ethnic Serbian parents at a time when both were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  The 5, 2 and 1 Eurocent have the letters "HR" in Glagolitic scrip.  HR is the abbreviation of the country in Croatian (Republika Hrvatska).  Glagolitic is the oldest known Slavic alphabet, dating back to the 9th Century. All the coins incorporate the checkboard Croatian arms into the design.  All eight coins have the standard map of Europe designs on the reverses.

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HUNGARIAN BI-METALLIC 200 FORINT FEATURES CHAIN BRIDGE  

Hungary introduced this new bimetallic 200 Forint coin in 2009 in order to replace the 200 Forint banknote in circulation.  The banknote will cease to be legal tender.  The coin pictures the famed Széchenyi Chain Bridge one one side and has the date and denomination on the other.  The chain suspension bridge, completed in 1849, was the first permanent bridge across the Danube to join Buda with Pest. In 1873 the two cities were united to form the Hungarian capital of Budapest. At the time the bridge was built, its center span of 202 meters (663 feet) was one of the largest in the world and was considered by some to be a "Wonder of the World".

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HUNGARY COMMEMORATES THEIR CURRENCY

Hungary issued this circulating commemorative 50 Forint coin dated 2016 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Hungarian Forint.  The Forint was introduced August 1, 1946 to replace the massively inflated Pengo at a rate of 1 forint = 4×10²⁹ Pengo (that is 1 with 29 zeros behind it) Pengo,  The name Forint dates back to the gold Florin of Florence that was introduced in 1252AD and circulated in Hungary in the 14th Century.  The obverse of the 27.4mm copper-nickel coin features the traditional arms of Hungary depicting the Royal Crown of Hungary.  The denomination is on the reverse.

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HUNGARY 50 FORINT 2017 FINA AQUATICS COMPETITION

Hungary commemorated the 17th FINA (Fédération internationale de natation or International Swimming Federation) World Aquatics Championships held in Budapest July 14-30, 2017 on their 2017 commemorative 50 Forint.  The event brought 2000 swimmers and divers from throughout the world together for over two weeks of competitions in 75 events.  The 27.4mm copper-nickel coin depicts the FINA-Budapest logo on one side and the denomination on the other.

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HUNGARY 50 FORINT 2018 ICE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Hungary honored the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation Division I Group A World Championship games held in Budapest April 22 to 28 on this 2018 circulating commemorative 50 Forint.  The reverse of the 27.4mm copper-nickel coin features a player taking a shot on the goal and the emblem of the Hungarian Ice Hockey Association.  The obverse features the denomination and the Budapest mintnmark.

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HUNGARY 2018 YEAR OF THE FAMILY 50 FORINT

In January 2018 Hungarian Prime Minister declared 2018 to be Hungary's Year of the Family in order to encourage more and larger families because the nations birthrate is too low. (Wasn't it just a few years ago the world was facing a "population bomb" and everyone was supposed to have fewer children?)  The reverse of the 27.4mm copper-nickel coin includes the Year of the Family logo which features a stylized family and the "Year of the Family" in Hungarian. The obverse features the denomination and the Budapest mintnmark.

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HUNGARY 2018 WORLD WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Hungary commemorated the 2018 World Wrestling Championships held in Budapest from October 20 to 28, 2018. The event included Men and women's freestyle and Men's Greco-Roman wrestling. Russia was the clear winner with 10 gold medals. The 27.4mm copper-nickel 50 Forint depicts one wrestler throwing the other. The denomination is on the obverse

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HUNGARY HONORS THE "HEROES OF THE PANDEMIC"

Hungary recently released 2020 dated circulating 10 and 20 Forint commemorative coins honoring the "Heroes of the Pandemic".   Hungary's COVID-19 cases and death rates were well below that of neighboring European nations, though recently there has been a spike in the number of cases.  Both coins have similar designs. The obverses depict the images of those that contributed to control the pandemic formed into the shape of a heart.  The coins have the same reverses as the regular issues which depict the denomination and the Budapest mint mark. 

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HUNGARY OPENS NEW MONEY MUSEUM

Hungary commemorated their new Money Museum, which opened in March 2022 on this bi-metallic 100 Forint.  The museum, operated by the Hungarian National Bank is designed to focus attention on financial literacy and includes many interactive exhibits oriented towards children.  The coin depicts four stylized coins (the Anjou lily, in a reference to Hungarian gold florins from the Middle Ages, the iconic digit 1 of the 1-forint coin introduced in 1946, a globe, and a pair of scales), the old Postal Palace which now houses the museum and an upward pointing graph.  The 2022 dated bi-metallic coin is 23.8mm.

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HUNGARIAN BIMETALLIC COMMEMORATES 175th ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR MILITARY

Hungary issued this circulating 2023 bi-metallic 100 Forint to commemorate the 175th anniversary of their Defense Forces.  The Defense Forces were first organized by Lajos Kossuth during the unsuccessful 1848 Hungarian Revolution.  The obverse of the 23.8mm coin features the emblem of the Hungarian Defiance Forces: a Turul, a mythical bird of prey, holding the sword of Stephen I of Hungary in its claws, and the shield of the Hungarian Defense Forces.   The denomination is on the reverse.

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HUNGARY HONORS THEIR AMBULANCE SERVICE

Hungary issued a 2023 circulating 50 Forint coin to commemorate the 75th anniversary of their National Ambulance Service.  It is the largest ambulance and medical institution in Hungary.  It was formally established in 1948, though traces its roots going back to 1887.  The 27.4mm copper-nickel coin depicts the Rod of Asclepius, depicting a snake coiled on a stick, which symbolizes the healing aspect of medical arts. Beneath the Rod of Asclepius is a six-armed Cross of Constantine. The cross represents the star of life signifying the steps in the process of life-saving: recognition, emergency call, first aid, paramedic care, control during transport and hospital care.  The denomination is on the reverse.

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RARE KOSOVO BANKNOTES

Kosovo was a province of Serbia that is made up of primarily Muslim ethnic Albanians.  In 1998 fighting broke out between Serb armed forces and ethnic Albanian militias that supported independence or unification with Albania.  Atrocities were committed by both sides.  United States and NATO forces finally stepped in to stop the fighting.  It was during all this chaos these unusual banknotes were issued.  The notes were printed on obsolete 1992 Macedonian banknotes.  The notes dated April 1, 1999 were issued by the Provisional Bank of the Republic of Kosovo.   The notes were sold to collectors as fundraisers for humanitarian efforts in Kosovo.  They are the only notes of Kosovo as Kosovo has not yet issued any coins or notes for circulation. They use Euros or Serbian Dinars. 

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ATTRACTIVE MACEDONIAN COIN SET INCLUDES WILDLIFE

This six coin set from Macedonia includes the 50 Deni to the 50 Denari.  The 50 Denari portrays the head of Archangel Gabriel..  The 10 Denari has the peacock.  Both coins are copper-nickel.  The lower four denominations all feature animals and are struck in brass. A lynx is on the 5 Denari. An Ochrid Trout is on the 2 Denari.  A Yugoslav Shepherd Dog (Sarplaninac) is on the 1 Denar.  The 50 Deni features a seagull in flight.  The reverses of the coins feature the denomination and a 16-ray sun symbol that was used by Alexander the Great. All six coins are Brilliant Uncirculated

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FIRST NORTH MACEDONIA COIN SET FEATURES ANIMALS

This three-coin set features the first coins issued by North Macedonia. The country was previously known as Macedonia, but Greece forced it to change its name.  Other than the revised name, the design and the specifications of the coins are the same as the previous Macedonian issue.  The coins feature native fauna.  The 2022 5 Dinari features a Macedonian Lynx. The 2022 2 Dinari depicts a Lake Ohrid brown trout.  A Shar Planina Shepherd dog (also called Illyrian or Yugoslavian Shepherd) is on the 2020 1 Dinar.  The reverses of the coins depict 16 sun rays, which is derived from a symbol of ancient Macedonia.  All three coins are brass-plated steel. Also available is the beautiful 2020 North Macedonia polymer 10 Denai banknote.

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FIRST BANKNOTE OF NORTH MACEDONIA

In 1991 the Republic of Macedonia gained independence in the breakup of Yugoslavia.  Greece, however objected to the name Macedonia, which they saw as part of their ancient Greek heritage and was a region of Greece.  Greece blocked Macedonia's membership to the European Union and NATO.  The countries finally came to an agreement and in 2019 the Macedonia was renamed the Republic of North Macedonia.  The first banknotes issued under the new name were released in 2020, including this beautiful polymer 10 Denars note. The design was similar to previous issues. The front includes a crescent-shaped gold filigree earring from the 4th century BC and an ancient alabaster statue of the Egyptian Goddess Isidia which was discovered in the city of Ohrid.  In the lower left corner is a 2nd Century AD marble bust of Titus Flavius Philoxenia, the high priest of the city of Heraclea Lyncestis (Bitola).  The reverse features a mosaic of a peacock from the 4th-5th century baptistry of the Episcopal Basilica in Stobi.  The peacock motif is repeated in the see-through window on the right. Peacocks symbolized resurrection, immortality, and eternal life.  

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EARLY DATED SILVER COIN OF POLAND-LITHUANIA

Until the 1600's most nations did not put dates on coins. These silver 1/2 Grossus (Groschen) coins of Sigismund II Augustus from the 1500's are some of the earliest affordable coins bearing an AD date.  Sigismund was both the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania.  In 1569 he formally united the two countries with the Treaty of Lublin to form the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.  His coins reflect this dual nationality.  One side features his titles as Grand Duke of Lithuania, and Vytas, the White Knight, which is the national symbol of Lithuania.  Below Vytas is the date.  The other side features the Polish Eagle and his titles as King of Poland.  The 19mm silver coins date from 1547 to 1572.  In 1572 Sigsmund died childless, despite having three wives (two of which were first cousins) and carrying on affairs with "two of the most beautiful of his countrywomen".  He was the last of the powerful Jagiellonian dynasty controlled much of central Europe for almost 200 years.

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POLAND HONORS THE LIFE OF THEIR POPE

 Poland issued this 2 Zlote coin in 2005 shortly after the death of Pope John Paul II.  The Polish born Pope was the first the first non-Italian Pope since 1523.  One side depicts the Pope ith an outline of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome in the background.  The other side features a stylized Polish Eagle.  The 27mm coin is struck in a brass alloy called "Nordic Gold".

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POPULAR POLAND WILDLIFE COINS

Poland regularly issues  a 27mm "Nordic gold" (brass alloy) 2 Zlote honoring native endangered wildlife.  The attractive coins are always popular with collectors.The 2014 issue features the Konik Horse. The Konik Horse is a small, hardy, semi-feral horse that originated in Poland.  The European Bison (Zubr)  is on the 2013 issue. The European Bison was hunted to extinction in the wild in the early 20th Century.  Since then it has been reintroduced from captivity.  In the past, especially during the Middle Ages, it was commonly killed for its hide, and to produce drinking horns.  No wildlife coins were issued for 2012.  The 2011 issues featurew the European Badger.  The 2010 issues feature the Lesser Horse-shoe Bat.  It is one of the world’s smallest bats, weighing only 5 to 9 grams (less than a third of an ounce) and is less than a 44mm long (under 2 inches).  The 2008 issue honors the Peregrine Falcon.

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POLAND 2 ZLOTE COMMEMORATIVE SETS

Each year Poland produces a number of attractive commemorative 2 Zlote coins covering a wide variety of topics, including endangered wildlife, historic cities, famous Poles, sporting events, etc.  The coins are struck in an aluminum-bronze alloy called Nordic Gold.  The issues are reasonably priced and popular with collectors, however collecting them can be difficult due to the large number of issues.   Luckily we found someone that assembled complete sets of these popular and attractive 2 Zlote coins from original mint bags.   The 2005 series consists of 19 issues.  The 2006 and 2007 sets  each contain 23 coins.  The 2008 set contains 16 coins.  The 2009 set has 18 coins.  The 2010 set has 20 coins.  The 2011 set has 21 coins.  The 2012 set has 15 coins.  These sets are not packaged.

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BI-METALLIC COINS FROM POLAND

Poland recently introduced a series of circulating bi-metallic 5 Zlotych coins with the theme "Discover Poland".  Each coin features  historic, but often not well known places.  The 24.5mm coins have a copper-nickel ring around an aluminum-bronze center. The arms of Poland are on the obverse.    Poland honored the Poznan Town Hall (Ratusz) on this 2015 bi-metallic 5 Zlotych.  The mannerist style building was completed in 1560 and served as the seat of local government until 1939.  Today it houses a museum.  Each day at noon two mechanical goats come out from the clock tower and butt heads.   The coin depicts the town hall.  The two goats can be seen in the shaded are next to the town hall.  The 2016 5 Zlotych features The Priest's Mill (KSIĘŻY MŁYN) in Lodz.  The mill is a vast housing and industrial complex built in the 1870's on land which originally belonged to the Rector of the Parish of Lodz. The almost completely preserved complex includes a spinning mill, factory buildings, shops, two hospitals, a school, workers housing and owners and directors estates covering over 1200 acres (500 ha).   Today it is a monument to 19th century industrial designs and company towns.    

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COIN OF RIGA FOR THE UNCONVENTIONAL QUEEN CHRISTINA

Queen Christina of Sweden was one of the most educated, wittiest, unorthodox and unconventional women of the 17th century.  She succeeded her father on the throne of Sweden in 1632 when she was only six years old.  She took a deep interest in philosophy, religion, art, mathematics and science.   She was fond of books, paintings and had a collection of over 33,000 coins and medals. She frequently dressed as a man. She knew at least nine languages - and could out-cuss a soldier. She was headstrong and often in conflict with her own Chancellor.  In 1638 the first Swedish settlement in the New World was established and named after her: Fort Christina, which is now Wilmington, Delaware.  She founded Sweden's first newspaper. Her efforts helped bring about the Peace of Westphalia, ending the Thirty Years' War. She had an intimate relationship with her handmaiden and in 1649 she announced that she decided not to marry.  In 1654 she abdicated her throne and left Sweden in order to convert to Catholicism.   She was warmly received by Pope Alexander VII and for a time was given her own wing inside the Vatican.  Though often running short of money, she was a major patron of the theater and the arts.  She gave much occasion for gossip as she did not follow the norms for women of that era and freely socialized with men.  She used her position to protect the Jews of Rome.  Missing politics, she attempted to regain the throne of Sweden and gain the thrones of Naples and Poland, all without success.  She died in 1689, and is one of only three women buried within St. Peter's Basilica. This Solidus of Queen Christina was issued for Riga between 1634 and 1654.  Riga, now the capital of Latvia, was under Swedish control from 1621 to 1721.  It was given considerable autonomy, including the right to issue its own coins.  The copper or silver-washed Solidus of Riga have Queen Christina's royal monogram on one side and the arms of Riga on the other.  The crudely made coins are 15mm in diameter, typically are struck somewhat off center without a date.

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FIRST BANKNOTE OF NAZI OCCUPIED SERBIA 

The first banknotes issued by the Germans after invaiding Serbia were made by overprinting Yugoslavian banknotes they found in the vaults of the central bank. Perhaps it is telling that the Nazi's would put their ugly brown overprint on what was then one of the world's prettiest banknotes. This 100 Dinar note dated May 1, 1941, less than a month after the Nazi invasion began. It is overprinted on the 1929 Yugoslavia 100 Dinar banknotes. The front depicts young woman holding a sword. The back features a young man with a large garland of fruit.

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ATTRACTIVE BANKNOTE OF NAZI GERMAN OCCUPIED SERBIA 

On April 6, 1941 Axis Forces under Nazi Germany invaded Yugoslavia.  They promptly conquered and divided the nation along ethnic lines.  Serbia was placed under the control of the German military.   Serbia issued some beautiful, multi-color banknotes while under Nazi German control. The notes were printed by the Serbian Institute for Manufacturing Banknotes and Coins in Belgrade. The 500 Dinar dated November 11, 1941 depicts a woman with gold coin jewelry on the front and a bricklayer on the back.  They are impressive, large size, colorful notes from a time when Serbia was under Nazi German occupation.

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NATIVE WILDLIFE ON OBSOLETE COINS OF SLOVENIA

With the introduction of the Euro, Slovenia's attractive wildlife coins are now obsolete and have been withdrawn from circulation. All six of the Tolar denominated coins feature native wildlife. The 10 Stotinov pictures an Olm salamander, an unusual blind aquatic salamander found in the caves of Slovenia. A barn owl is on the 20 Stotinov. A bee is on the 50 Stotinov. The 1 Tolar features salmon, the 2 Tolar shows a swallow in flight, an ibex is on the 5 Tolar, a horse is on the 10 Tolar and a stork is on the 20 Tolar.  The lower three denominations are aluminum, the top three are brass.  It is an attractive animal coin set. The coins date from 1992 to 2006.  The coins were withdrawn from circulation in 2007 when Slovenia switched to the Euro. 

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SLOVENIA EURO COIN SET

In 2007 Slovenia, once the northernmost part of Yugoslavia, became the first of the former east European nations to adopt the Euro as their currency.  It replaced the Slovenian Tolar.  Because of the expansion of European Union the common side of the Euro coins have been redesigned to show the expanded European Union.  The Slovenian Euro coins are the first to use the new design.  The national side of the coins highlight Slovenian history culture.  The bi-metallic 2 Euro coin features national poet France Prešeren and the first line of the Slovenian national anthem which was written by him.  The bi-metallic 1 Euro pictures Primož Trubar, a 16th century Protestant reformer, superintendent of the Protestant Church of Slovenia and the author of the first book printed in Slovenian.  Mount Triglav, Slovenia's highest mountain and the constellation of cancer is featured on the 50 euro cent coin.   Two Lipizzaner horses are on the 20 euro cent coin. The 10 euro cent coin features the "Katedrala Svobode" (Cathedral of Freedom), a national parliament building that has never been built!  A man sowing stars and seeds is featured on the 5 euro cent coin.  The design is based on Ivan Grohar painting  "The Sower".  The 2 euro cent shows the Prince's Stone.  The stone was the base of an ancient Roman column. It was used to install the medieval prince's of Karatania.  A stork is on the 1 euro cent. Every coin has 12 stars around edge interspersed with letters spelling “SLOVENIJA”. The coins are the first of what will be a major expansion of the Euro coin series.

Item SI-EUSET SLOVENIA 8 COIN EURO SET, EUROCENT - 2 EUROS, 2007-09 UNC. $15.00

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SLOVENIA WORLD BOOK CAPITAL BI-METALLIC 3 EURO 

Slovenia regularly issues circulating bi-metallic 3 Euro commemorative coins.  The 32mm coins have a brass outer ring, a copper-nickel center and a reeded edge.  They are legal tender within Slovenia and available at their face value.  The 2010  issue commemorates Slovenia's capital,  Ljubljana, as the UNESCO's World Book Capital 2010.  It features the facade of Plecnik’s National Library and the outline of a scroll and a book. 

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SLOVENIA 2022 2 EURO HONORS ARCHITECT JOZE PLECNIK

The 150th anniversary of Slovenian architect Jose Plecnik is commemorated on this bi-metallic 2022 2 Euro coin from Slovenia. He had major impact on the modern architecture of Vienna, Prague and Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, giving that city much of its modern identity.  He was associated with the Vienna Secession style of architecture, a type of Art Nouveau.  The design features the large reading room window in the National and University Library in Ljubljana, with a column in front of it. The letters A R H. P L E C N I K are built into the window space and is a metaphor for the architect’s signature.

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SILVER DENAR OF TRANSYLVANIA

This silver Dener of Transylvania was struck for Gabriel Bethlen. Bethlen became the Prince Transylvania in 1613 with support from the Ottoman Empire.  His reign marked the start of a golden age for Transylvania.  He developed mines and industry, founded a college and supported the arts. He nationalized much of the foreign trade, profits of which helped support his many programs.  He was Calvinist, and waged three wars against the Catholic Hapsburgs.  In 1620 he was elected King of Hungary.  After a string of military defeats by Hapsburg forces, he renounced the title in 1621 in return for guarantees of religious freedom for Hungarian Protestants..  The obverse depicts the Madonna and Child.   The reverse has the arms of Hungary.  The slightly irregular coin is approximately 13mm.  The coin is dated 1621 and were struck at  the Kremnica Mint (KB) and show virtually no wear. 

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LAST COIN OF THE KINGDOM OF YUGOSLAVIA

This 1938 10 Dinara is one of the last coins of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The obverse of the 23mm nickel coin depicts the head of young King Peter II. The reverse has the royal crown, denomination and date within a wreath. Peter became king in 1934 at age 11 upon the assassination of his father, King Alexander I. Though he was opposed to Nazi Germany, his regent signed a pact that allied Yugoslavia with the Nazis in 1941. Two days later a British supported coup overthrew the regency and proclaimed the 17 year old Peter to be of age and in control of Yugoslavia. Hitler responded by attacking and quickly conquering Yugoslavia.  Peter escaped by climbing down a drainpipe. Hitler's attack of Yugoslavia diverted the German army and  delayed Operation Barbarossa, the Nazi invasion of Russia by six weeks. The delay contributed to Germany's defeat due to the harsh Russian winter.  Peter was never able to return to his homeland. He made his way to London, then after the war lived in the United States, eventually working in a Los Angeles Savings and Loan before he died in Denver in 1970.

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YUGOSLAVIA 5 NOTE HYPERINFLATION SET

Between 1992 and 1994 Yugoslavia suffered from one of the longest and worst hyperinflations in economic history. Inflation reached 116.546 trillion percent in January 1994.  In 1990 Slovenia, Croatia and North Macedonia all withdrew from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992.  Due to ongoing inflation Yugoslavia did a 10 to 1 currency revaluation on January 1, 1992 and inflation continued to soar.   On October 1, 1993 the country did a 1 Million to 1 currency revaluation, followed by a 1 billion to 1 revaluation on January 1, 1994.  That was replaced on January 24, 1994 by the Novi Dinar which was tied to the German Mark, resulting in about a 13 million to 1 currency revaluation.   This set of 5 Yugoslavian inflation notes includes the following notes:   The 1992 50,000 Dinar depicting a young boy on the front and roses on the back.   The 1993 500,000,000 Dinar picturing a young woman on the front and the Department of Agriculture building on the back.   The 1993 5,000,000,000 Dinar picturing 19th century Serbian poet, painter and writer Dura Jaksic on the front and the 15th century Vracevsnica Monastery on the back.  The front of the 1993 50,000,000,000 Dinar portrays Milan Obrenovic, who was Prince of Serbia from 1868 to 1882 and King of Serbia from 1882 until he abdicated in 1889.  The 19th century Residence of Prince Milos in Belgrade is on the back.  The 1994 50,000 Dinar features Prince Karadorde Petrovic who led a revolt for Sebian independence from the Ottoman Empire from 1804 until 1813.  The back pictures the Church of the Holy Mother in Karadjordje that was built in 1811.

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COINS FROM YUGOSLAVIA'S HYPER-INFLATION

In the 1990's Yugoslavia underwent a complete collapse as the country broke into five separate nations and inflation soared. Prices sometimes more than doubled within a day!  To keep up with inflation Yugoslavia had to keep introducing new coins and currency.  In early 1993 more new coins and currency were introduced, with 1 new Dinara equal to 1 Million 1992 Dinara.  The new coins featured the national emblem on one side and the denomination on the other. 1, 2, 50, 10, 50 and 100 Dinara coins were issued, however they circulated only briefly. Due to raging inflation they were soon virtually worthless. 

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TESLA HONORED ON YUGOSLAVIAN BANKNOTE

Nikola Tesla was one of the great pioneers in electricity. His inventions in electrical generation and power transmission give us the alternating current electricity we use today. He was a man of many nations. He was born in Croatia to Serbian parents, studied in Austria and Czechoslovakia then went to the United States where he did most of his inventing. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia honored him with this this 1993 5000 Dinara banknote. The reverse pictures the Tesla Museum in Belgrade. The  note circulated only briefly due to Yugoslavia's severe inflation at the time.

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SERBIA HONORS TESLA ON SILVER COINS

Nikola Tesla was a Serbian American inventor, electrical engineer, physicist, and futurist.  He is said to have over 300 patents covering a wide range of technologies including alternating current, electric motors, remote control, television, radio, x-rays, cell phones, robotics, lasers, turbine engines, magnetic propulsion, drones, solar power, weather manipulation, particle beams and electromagnetic energy (the Tesla coil). He was a brilliant inventor, but a poor businessman.  Despite his many important and revolutionary inventions, he died alone and penniless in New York in 1943.
   Serbia instituted an annual series of silver 100 Dinara coins honoring Tesla and his many inventions.  The 40.25mm coins each contain 1 troy ounce of .999 silver  and are struck by the Serbian Mint.  The Serbian arms, weight, purity, silver content, date, denomination and one or more of his inventions are on the reverses.  
    The 2020 coin honored Tesla's early work with X-rays.  Nikola Tesla was one of the early discoverers of X-rays.  His first X-ray images, which he called shadowgraphs, were done in 1894, a year before Wilhelm Rontgen published his discovery of X-rays in 1895. He was one of the first to recognize some of the benefits of X-rays, such as the finding of foreign objects within a body and the detection of lung diseases.  He was also one of the first to recognize the hazards of X-ray radiation. Unfortunately, most of his work was lost when his laboratory burned down in 1895.  The coin has a mintage of 19,812 in BU.
   The 2021 issue depicts his famed Wardenclyffe Tower.  The 187 foot (57m) tall tower on Long Island was supposed be able to distribute free energy to all.  Foreshadowing the Internet, it would allow one to call any telephone in the world and allow one to hear music or speeches delivered anywhere.  The ambitious project failed on two counts:  Tesla could not figure out how to recover the costs of the project if everything was free, and the technology did not work.  The coin has a mintage of  9,340 in BU
     The first 2023 issue features what Tesla considered "The Secret of the Universe".  Tesla believed the everything in the universe could be understood through the Energy, Vibration and Frequency of waves.  Understanding waves not only explains natural phenomena, but also our interaction and perception of the physical world and our well-being, harmony and life as well.  We interact with the reality through our eyes and ears which convert electromagnetic (light) and mechanical (sound) waves into electric neural signals; which are then interpreted by our brain through the firing of neurons, which produce and respond to electrical impulses.  Tesla believed physics and dimension are best understood by the mathematics of threes.  One of his famous quotes: "If you only know the magnificence of the 3, 6 and 9, then you would have the key to the universe".  He believed these numbers held great significance in the universe, nature and understanding humans.  It has a mintage of 9711 in BU.
   The second 2023 issue depicts Tesla's "Aether into space drive", also called his anti-gravity flying car.  The design is based on his patent application for an anti-gravity flying car.  Much of Tesla's later work, including his theories on transmitting large amounts of energy through space, was based on his theories about Aether.  Aether was an invisible substance which filled space, rather than space being a vacuum.  His theories about Aether have been disproven and the Anti gravity flying car was never built.   The coin has an estimated mintage of about 7000 in BU.
ALSO SEE:
TESLA HONORED ON YUGOSLAVIAN BANKNOTE: 5000 Dinara 1993 P128

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ALSO SEE:
COINS & CURRENCY OF EAST GERMANY

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