Estimate: 50.000 EURBaltic States.
Livonian Order. Gotthard Kettler, 1559-1561.
2 1/2 Ducats n. d., mint probably Riga.
Extremely rare.
Almost extremely fine.
2
Estimate: 15.000 EUREngland.
Elizabeth I, 1558-1603.
Sovereign n. d., (1584-1586), London.
Very rare. Slightly bent, almost extremely fine.
117
Estimate: 4.000 EUREgypt.
Mustafa III, 1757-1774.
2 Zeri Mahbub 1757/1758 (= 1171 AH), Misr (Kairo)
Ziynet pattern. Very rare.
Holed, almost extremely fine.
368
Estimate: 6.000 EURColumbia.
Carlos III, 1759-1788.
8 Escudos 1764, NR-JV,
Santa Fe de Nuevo Reino (Bogota).
NGC AU58. Rare. Extremely fine.
409
Estimate: 50.000 EURGerman States. City of Hamburg.
Bankportugalöser in the weight of 10 Ducats 1689,
by J. Reteke, on the major European banking cities
of Amsterdam, Hamburg, Nuremberg, and Venice.
NGC MS63 PL. Very rare.
Extremely fine-uncirculated.
643
Estimate: 7.500 EURAustralia. George V, 1910-1936.
Penny 1919.
Copper-nickel pattern of the “Kookaburra Penny”
by C. D. Richardson for Stokes & Sons.
Extremely rare. PCGS SP 61.
Tiny edge faults, extremely fine.
1224
Estimate: 10.000 EURKompanie van Verre, 1594-1602.
Vereenigde Amsterdamsche Compagnie.
1/2 Daalder in the weight of 4 Reales 1601, Dordrecht.
Extremely rare.
Fine patina, very fine-extremely fine.
2501
Estimate: 30.000 EURKingdom of the Netherlands.
5 Gulden type 1846.
Highest rarity (RRRR).
PMG Choice Very Fine 35.
3054
Estimate: 30.000 EURKingdom of the Netherlands.
1000 Gulden type 1860.
Highest rarity (RRRR).
PMG Extremely Fine 40.
Pinholes. Pressed.
3312
Estimate: 15.000 EURArchbishopric of Salzburg.
Leonhard von Keutschach, 1495-1519.
3 Ducats 1513.
Extremely rare.
Attractive piece with nice golden toning,
min. bent, extremely fine.
4001
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What Will Be Depicted on Croatia’s Euro Coins?

by Daniel Baumbach, translated by Maike Meßmann

Collectors of euro coins can be pleased: finally there’s a new member of the euro zone! Seven years have passed since the euro was introduced in a new euro country for the last time. On 1 January 2023, Croatia will become the youngest member of the euro zone. What will the new coins look like?

Content

Although the designs have not quite been finalized yet, we already know which motifs Croatian euro coins will depict. That’s always exciting to see. After all, coin motifs tell you a lot about how a country sees itself and wants to be seen by others. Let’s find out how Croatia presents itself to the euro area.

The current national coat of arms of Croatia.

The current national coat of arms of Croatia.

The oldest known depiction of the Croatian coat of arms, a ceiling fresco of the vault of a passage way in the old city of Innsbruck from 1495. Photo: Croq / CC BY-SA 3.0.

The oldest known depiction of the Croatian coat of arms, a ceiling fresco of the vault of a passage way in the old city of Innsbruck from 1495. Photo: Croq / CC BY-SA 3.0.

An Integral Part of all Motifs: The Coat of Arms

In addition the respective motif, the national sides of Croatian euro coins will depict the distinctive coat of arms of Croatia, the so-called Šahovnica. The coat of arms resembles a chessboard with red and white squares and will be part of the motifs background. The Croats are very proud of their coat of arms, which is the subject of many legends. One of them, for example, is about a competition of three chess games between the Venetian Doge and the Croatian King Stjepan Držislav (r. 969 to 997). Instead of a bloody battle, chess was supposed to decide the outcome of the war since both rulers were said to have been enthusiastic players. Stjepan Držislav won and legend has it that he therefore adopted a blood-red chessboard as his coat of arms. Historians, on the other hand, assume that the coat of arms was created shortly after 1491 and goes back to the Habsburg Maximilian I. The latter won the Hungarian crown for his descendants – and thus also the rule over Croatia. Therefore, the oldest known version of the coat of arms can be found in Innsbruck.

Glagolitic script: at the top you can see the original, round shape of the letters, at the bottom the more angular shape that was common in Croatia.

Glagolitic script: at the top you can see the original, round shape of the letters, at the bottom the more angular shape that was common in Croatia.

One side of the Missale Romanum Glagolitice, the first missal printed in Glagolitic script.

One side of the Missale Romanum Glagolitice, the first missal printed in Glagolitic script.

1, 2 and 5 Cents: Glagolitic Script

The lowest denominations of Croatian euro coins will show Glagolitic script. It is considered the oldest Slavic script and was developed and widely spread in the 9th century by Cyril of Thessalonica, the most important Christian missionary in the Slavic region. It later evolved into the Cyrillic script, which is still used today in Russia and elsewhere. Some Balkan States also use Cyrillic script, Croats, however, do not – they use Latin letters. Still, the Glagolitic script remained in use in Croatia much longer than anywhere else, until the 19th century to be precise. Therefore, proud Croats who called for an independent nation-state considered the script to be typical for the region and revived it. It still enjoys great popularity in Croatia today.

The choice of depicting this motif on new cent coins is intended to remind us that Croatia already had a highly developed writing culture in the Middle Ages. In 1483 – and thus only 28 years after the Gutenberg Bible(!) – the first missal that was not written in Latin letters but in Glagolitic script was printed in Kosinj, Croatia: the Missale Romanum Glagolitice. However, it is quite controversial whether the Missale Romanum Glagolitice was actually produced in Croatia or Italy.

As early as in 2006, Tesla was depicted on a Croatian commemorative coin. Croatia. 150 kuna (silver) 2006, Croatian Monetary Institute. CoCo HR-2006-0004. Photo: Croatian Monetary Institute.

As early as in 2006, Tesla was depicted on a Croatian commemorative coin. Croatia. 150 kuna (silver) 2006, Croatian Monetary Institute. CoCo HR-2006-0004. Photo: Croatian Monetary Institute.

Serbians are also proud of Tesla: they depict him on 20 dinar coins ...

Serbians are also proud of Tesla: they depict him on 20 dinar coins …

... and on the 100 dinar banknote. Photo: WikiWriter123 - CC BY-SA 4.0

… and on the 100 dinar banknote. Photo: WikiWriter123 – CC BY-SA 4.0

10, 20 and 50 Cents: Nikola Tesla

Croatia’s 10, 20 and 50 cent pieces will depict Nikola Tesla (1856-1943). The ingenious inventor and pioneer of electrics was born in 1856 in the Croatian village of Smiljan, which was then part of the Habsburg Empire. This isn’t the first coin that Croats have dedicated to Tesla: he was also depicted on a 2006 commemorative coin. In fact, Croats hold Tesla in high esteem. When the citizens were asked for suggestions regarding new coin designs for the euro introduction, a picture of Tesla was the most frequently submitted suggestion.

The announcement of the motifs that had been chosen for the new euro coins caused some tension, and even forced Croatia’s President and Prime Minister to comment on the matter. For the people of Croatia aren’t the only ones who take pride in the ingenious inventor – Serbians do too since Tesla’s parents were from Serbia. According to the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation ORF, the Serbian Central Bank accused the Croats of appropriating “the cultural and scientific heritage of the Serbian people” and announced to protest at EU level. Tesla also appears on Serbian currency, namely on the 20 dinar coin and the 100 dinar banknote.

If Serbia were a member of the EU, it would have vetoed this motif – this possibility exists to prevent a member state from feeling provoked by another country’s choice of motif, for example, in case a historical person is seen differently. However, since Serbia isn’t an EU member state, nobody seems to want to prevent Croatia from issuing the Tesla coins. Anyway, one might think that Serbians should be glad that Croats honour someone with Serbian roots on their coins. After all, Germans don’t complain about the fact that Mozart is shown on coins in Austria either!

A pine marten. Photo: Atirador / CC BY-SA 3.0

A pine marten. Photo: Atirador / CC BY-SA 3.0

The marten has a long-standing tradition as coin motif in the region. Hungary, Bela IV. Denarius, minted for the province of Slavonia under Duke Stefan and Ban Stefan Gutkeled, 1246-1260. From Künker auction 327 (2019), lot 4611.

The marten has a long-standing tradition as coin motif in the region. Hungary, Bela IV. Denarius, minted for the province of Slavonia under Duke Stefan and Ban Stefan Gutkeled, 1246-1260. From Künker auction 327 (2019), lot 4611.

Croatia’s current kuna coins also depict the marten. Photo: Shutterstock.

Croatia’s current kuna coins also depict the marten. Photo: Shutterstock.

1 Euro: The Kuna

Croatia’s 1 euro coin is to depict a marten. This motif can also be seen on the coins of the Croatian currency that was introduced in 1994 and bears the name “kuna”. This makes sense, after all, “kuna” is the Croatian word for marten. The motif reminds us of a long-standing monetary tradition of this region. In the Middle Ages, marten pelts were still an important currency in Croatia and were used, for instance, to pay taxes. Even after coins were established, for a long time “kuna” remained the most important unit of account of the Croatian people. Since then, the marten has repeatedly been featured on coins, for example in the 13th century. When Croatia was separated from the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1941 and made a vassal state of the Axis powers, the Croats chose to call their new own currency kuna. Sfter the declaration of independence from socialist Yugoslavia, the Croats opted to name their currency kuna again. Therefore, the marten on future euro coins stands for much more than a cute little animal.

The distinctive shape of Croatia. Photo: Sémhur – CC BY-SA 4.0

The distinctive shape of Croatia. Photo: Sémhur – CC BY-SA 4.0

2 Euros: Croatia’s Borders

Croatian 2 euro coins will feature the shape of the country. This is in line with Estonian euro coins, which feature a map of the country on all coins. Malicious gossip had it that Estonia did so to make people finally remember which of the three Baltic countries Estonia is. Perhaps Croatia also wants to prevent European pupils from confusing Croatia with other Balkan states in geography lessons in the future. In any case, the current shape of the country, which became independent in 1991, is distinctive enough to be quickly recognized. The long coastal area and the northern interior of the country are connected only by a narrow strip and virtually embrace the neighbouring country of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

What Won’t Be Featured on Croatia’s Euro Coins?

Now you know which motifs have been chosen. However, it’s also interesting to see which other motifs made it on the shortlist. For example, the beautiful old town of Dubrovnik, which attracts more than one million tourists every year. Or the Dalmatian, a breed of dog said to have originated in Croatia. Both motifs, by the way, have been used for commemorative coins in the last years. Tomislav, who became the first Croatian king in 925, also made it onto the shortlist, as did the cathedrals of Šibenik and Zagreb and the water tower or Vukovar, which is considered a memorial to the Croatian War of Independence (1991-1995). You see: Croatia has much more to offer in terms of sights, history and culture than can be depicted on such few coins. We are already looking forward to the first euro collector coins!


17Gaetani, P.A. Museum Mazzuchellianum.
2 Bände.
Full vellum.
Estimate: 2.400 EUR

74Alfen, P. van / Wartenberg, U. / u.v.W. White
Gold Studies in Early Electrum Coinage.
Estimate: 120 EUR

130Calciati, R. Pegasi.
Complete Set aus 2 Bänden.
Estimate: 400 EUR

260Kellner, H.-J.
Die Münzfunde von Manching.
Estimate: 250 EUR

480Visconti, E.Q.
Iconographie ancienne ou
Recueil des portraits authentiques.
3 Bände, complete.
Estimate: 750 EUR

668Friederich, K.
Die Münzen und Medaillen des Hauses Stolberg.
Half leather.
Estimate: 750 EUR

665Friedensburg, F. Schlesiens Münzgeschichte im Mittelalter.
2 Teile und Ergänzungsband.
Half leather.
Estimate: 550 EUR

839Nocq, H. Les Duvivier.
Jean Duvivier, 1687 - 1761
Benjamin Duvier, 1730 - 1819.
Half leather.
Estimate: 400 EUR

1155Hess, A., Frankfurt a.M. Auktion 6
vom 22.09.1880.
Collectio Montenuovo.
Die Siebenbürgischen Münzen und Medaillen des
Fürstlich Montenuovo’schen Münzcabinets. Cloth.
Estimate: 300 EUR

1104Sammelband Christie, Manson & Woods, London.
10 catalogues.
Mostly with a list of results and a list of buyers.
Cloth.
Estimate: 1.000 EUR

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