Exchange Currency
Croatian kuna
The kuna is the currency of Croatia since 1994. It is subdivided into 100 lipa. The kuna is issued by the Croatian National Bank and the coins are minted by the Croatian Monetary Institute.
The word "kuna" means "marten" in Croatian since it is based on the use of marten pelts as units of value in medieval trading. The word lipa means "linden (lime) tree".
In the Middle Ages, many foreign monies were used in Croatia, but since at least 1018 a local currency was in use. Between 1260 and 1380, the Croatian Viceroys were making a marten-adorned silver coin called the banovac. However, the diminishing autonomy of Croatia within the Croatia-Hungarian Kingdom led to the gradual disappearance of that currency.
The idea of a kuna currency reappeared in 1939 when the Banovina of Croatia, established within the Yugoslav Monarchy, planned to issue its own money.
In 1941, when the Ustase formed the Independent State of Croatia, they introduced the Independent State of Croatia kuna. This currency remained in circulation until 1945, when it along with competing issues by the communist Partisans, disappeared with the establishment of a communist totalitarian state.
The modern kuna was introduced on May 30, 1994, starting a transitional period from Croatian dinar, ending on December 31, 1994. The exchange rate between dinar and kuna was 1 kuna = 1000 dinars.
The choice of the name kuna was controversial because the same currency name had been used by the Independent State of Croatia kuna, but this was dismissed as a red herring, since the same name was in also in use during the Banovina of Croatia and by the ZAVNOH. An alternative proposition for the name of the new currency was kruna (crown), divided into 100 banica (viceroy's wife), but this was deemed too similar to the Austro-Hungarian krone and found inappropriate for the country which is a republic.The transition to the new currency went smoothly and the controversy quickly blew over.
The self-proclaimed Serbian entity Republic of Serbian Krajina did not use the kuna or the Croatian dinar. Instead, they issued their own Krajina dinar until the region was integrated back into Croatia in 1995.
The main reference currency for kuna was the German Mark, and later the Euro. A long-time policy of the Croatian National Bank has been to keep the fluctuations of the kuna exchange rate with the euro in a relatively stable range. The country has been on the path of accession to the European Union and it plans to join the European Monetary System. Kuna is expected to be replaced by the euro within two or three years after joining the European Union.
Due to their low value, 1 and 2 lipa coins are rarely used. Croatian National Bank has stated in 2001 that it had no plans for withdrawing the 1, 2 and 5 lipa coins
The word "kuna" means "marten" in Croatian since it is based on the use of marten pelts as units of value in medieval trading. The word lipa means "linden (lime) tree".
Summary info
Summary information about Croatian kuna- ISO 4217 Code:
- HRK
- Currency sign:
- kn
- Country:
- Republic of Croatia
- Subunit:
- lipa
- Coins:
- 1 lipa, 2 lipa, 5 lipa, 10 lipa, 20 lipa, 50 lipa, 1 kuna, 2 kuna, 5 kuna, 25 kuna
- Banknotes:
- 5 kuna, 10 kuna, 20 kuna, 50 kuna, 100 kuna, 200 kuna, 500 kuna, 1000 kuna
- Central bank:
- Croatian National Bank
History
During Roman times, in the provinces of upper and lower Pannonia (today Hungary and Slavonia), taxes were collected in the then highly valued marten skins. Hence, the Croatian word "marturina" or tax, derived from the Latin word "martus" (Croatian: "kuna"). The kuna was a currency unit in several Slavic states, most notably Kievan Rus and its successors until the early 15th century. It was equal to 1⁄25 (later 1⁄50) gryvna of silver. It has no relation to the various Slavic currencies named "koruna" (translated as kruna in Croatian).In the Middle Ages, many foreign monies were used in Croatia, but since at least 1018 a local currency was in use. Between 1260 and 1380, the Croatian Viceroys were making a marten-adorned silver coin called the banovac. However, the diminishing autonomy of Croatia within the Croatia-Hungarian Kingdom led to the gradual disappearance of that currency.
The idea of a kuna currency reappeared in 1939 when the Banovina of Croatia, established within the Yugoslav Monarchy, planned to issue its own money.
In 1941, when the Ustase formed the Independent State of Croatia, they introduced the Independent State of Croatia kuna. This currency remained in circulation until 1945, when it along with competing issues by the communist Partisans, disappeared with the establishment of a communist totalitarian state.
The modern kuna was introduced on May 30, 1994, starting a transitional period from Croatian dinar, ending on December 31, 1994. The exchange rate between dinar and kuna was 1 kuna = 1000 dinars.
The choice of the name kuna was controversial because the same currency name had been used by the Independent State of Croatia kuna, but this was dismissed as a red herring, since the same name was in also in use during the Banovina of Croatia and by the ZAVNOH. An alternative proposition for the name of the new currency was kruna (crown), divided into 100 banica (viceroy's wife), but this was deemed too similar to the Austro-Hungarian krone and found inappropriate for the country which is a republic.The transition to the new currency went smoothly and the controversy quickly blew over.
The self-proclaimed Serbian entity Republic of Serbian Krajina did not use the kuna or the Croatian dinar. Instead, they issued their own Krajina dinar until the region was integrated back into Croatia in 1995.
The main reference currency for kuna was the German Mark, and later the Euro. A long-time policy of the Croatian National Bank has been to keep the fluctuations of the kuna exchange rate with the euro in a relatively stable range. The country has been on the path of accession to the European Union and it plans to join the European Monetary System. Kuna is expected to be replaced by the euro within two or three years after joining the European Union.
Coins
In 1994, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 lipa (Croatian word for linden or tilia tree), 1, 2 and 5 kuna. The coins are issued in two versions: one with the name of the plant or animal in Croatian (issued in odd years), the other with the name in Latin (issued in even years).Due to their low value, 1 and 2 lipa coins are rarely used. Croatian National Bank has stated in 2001 that it had no plans for withdrawing the 1, 2 and 5 lipa coins
Banknotes
Kuna banknotes were introduced by the government in 1941, in denominations of 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 kuna. These were followed in 1942 by notes for 50 banicas and 1 and 2 kuna. In 1943, the Hrvatska Drzavna Bank (Croatian State Bank) introduced 100, 1000 and 5000 kuna notes. The notes were printed in Germany by Giesecke & Devrient.HRK banknotes pictures gallery
| 5 Croatian kuna | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 5 Croatian kuna has dimensions 122×61 mm and main colors are slate gray, timberwolf, pale silver and alice blue. Date of issue of 5 kuna banknote was 9 July 2001. | |
 Obverse side of the 5 Croatian kuna is showing Croatian Duke Fran Krsto Frankopan and the Croatian Ban Petar Zrinski. They were Croatian aristocrats and leaders of the movement for emancipation from Vienna. They were both executed in 1671 after their revolt against Vienna failed. |
 Reverse side of the 5 Croatian kuna is showing Keep and the ground plan of Varazdin Castle, 12th-16th century. |
| 10 Croatian kuna | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 10 Croatian kuna has dimensions 126×63 mm and main colors are taupe gray, gainsboro, platinum and pale silver. Date of issue of 10 kuna banknote was 18 June 2001. | |
 Obverse side of the 10 Croatian kuna is showing Portrait of Juraj Dobrila, Bishop of Poreč and Trieste from the 19th century. He was the leader of the Croatian Revival Movement in the battle for Croatian rights in Istria. In one of his first demands to the Istrian Parliament in Poreč, he asked that the Croatian should become the official language along with the Italian language. |
 Reverse side of the 10 Croatian kuna is showing Arena in Pula, Istria built in the 1st century is one of the six still preserved Roman amphitheatres. Below is a ground plan of the small city of Motovun in Istria. |
| 20 Croatian kuna | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 20 Croatian kuna has dimensions 130×65 mm and main colors are almond, magnolia, mountbatten pink and languid lavender. Date of issue of 20 kuna banknote was 16 August 2001. | |
 Obverse side of the 20 Croatian kuna is showing Portrait of the Croatian Ban and general Josip Jelacic from the 19th century. He abolished serfdom and defended Croatian autonomy. |
 Reverse side of the 20 Croatian kuna is showing Motif of the castle of Count Eltz in Vukovar and the motif of the dove of Vucedol, an eneolithic ceramic cult vessel in the form of a bird, one of the most beautiful preserved pieces of Vucedol culture. |
| 50 Croatian kuna | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 50 Croatian kuna has dimensions 134×67 mm and main colors are cadet grey, manatee, pale silver and anti-flash white. Date of issue of 50 kuna banknote was 25 November 2002. | |
 Obverse side of the 50 Croatian kuna is showing Portrait of Ivan Gundulic (1589-1638), the greatest poet of the Croatian Renaissance literature, author of the ode to independence of the Dubrovnik Republic "Oh, beautiful, oh dear, oh sweet freedom!" |
 Reverse side of the 50 Croatian kuna is showing Motif of The City, the old center of the city of Dubrovnik, until 1808 the capital of the independent Republic, today on the UNESCO's World Heritage List. |
| 100 Croatian kuna | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 100 Croatian kuna has dimensions 138×69 mm and main colors are rosy brown, pale chestnut, timberwolf and khaki. Date of issue of 100 kuna banknote was 3 June 2002. | |
 Obverse side of the 100 Croatian kuna is showing Portrait of Ivan Mazuranic late 19th century Croatian Ban and poet, who declared Croatian language official and imposed obligatory education. Furthermore, a fragment of the Baska Inscription from the Convent of St. Lucy in Baska on the island of Krk can be seen. |
 Reverse side of the 100 Croatian kuna is showing Motif and a ground plan of the church of St. Vid in Rijeka, patron of the city. The church is specificl for its octagon ground plan (early 17th century) |
| 200 Croatian kuna | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 200 Croatian kuna has dimensions 142×71 mm and main colors are old mauve, cinereous, raspberry glace and misty rose. Date of issue of 200 kuna banknote was 12 August 2002. | |
 Obverse side of the 200 Croatian kuna is showing Portrait of Stjepan Radic (1871-1928), a charismatic Croatian political leader between the two world wars, who was assassinated 1928 in the Yugoslav parliament for speaking his mind and acting against the injustice. |
 Reverse side of the 200 Croatian kuna is showing Motif of the building of the general headquarters in Osijek, the command for borders of Vojna krajina, as well as the ground plan of the old fortress in Osijek |
| 500 Croatian kuna | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 500 Croatian kuna has dimensions 146×73 mm and main colors are beaver, grullo, ivory and timberwolf. Date of issue of 500 kuna banknote was 31 May 1994. | |
 Obverse side of the 500 Croatian kuna is showing Portrait of Marko Marulic (1450-1524), writer and humanist, the father of Croatian literature. In 1501 he wrote the first Croatian epic "Judita". |
 Reverse side of the 500 Croatian kuna is showing Diocletian's Palace, Split, a late Roman building from the 3rd century on the UNSECO's World Heritage List. The birthplace of Split, the great Dalmatian capital. Below is the figure of a Croatian ruler from the 11th century. |
| 1000 Croatian kuna | |
|---|---|
| Banknote of 1000 Croatian kuna has dimensions 150×75 mm and main colors are trolley grey, isabelline, pastel gray and snow. Date of issue of 1000 kuna banknote was 31 May 1994. | |
 Obverse side of the 1000 Croatian kuna is showing Portrait of Ante Stracevic, 19th century politician and the foremost advocate of his time for the idea of the Croatian nation. |
 Reverse side of the 1000 Croatian kuna is showing The bill shows the monument to the first Croatian king from 925 Tomislav, located on the Tomislav square and a motif of the front elevation of Zagreb's Neolithic's cathedral of St. Stephan. |
Useful links
- About Croatian National Bank:
- Croatian National Bank
- List of currencies:
- Currencies
- Security and design features of HRK banknotes:
- HRK banknotes
- HRK currency on Wikipedia:
- Croatian kuna
- Official Website of Croatian National Bank:
- www.hnb.hr
- Commemorative coins:
- Commemorative Coins