Obverse. Photo © Croatian National Bank
  • 25 Kuna 1999, KM# 64, Croatia, Introduction of Euro in EU
  • 25 Kuna 1999, KM# 64, Croatia, Introduction of Euro in EU
Description

The coin commemorates the introduction of the new monetary unit, the euro, in eleven European Union Member States.

The name "euro" was officially adopted in Madrid on 16 December 1995. Belgian Esperantist Germain Pirlot, a former teacher of French and history is credited with naming the new currency by sending a letter to then President of the European Commission, Jacques Santer, suggesting the name "euro" on 4 August 1995.

The currency was introduced in non-physical form (traveller's cheques, electronic transfers, banking, etc.) at midnight on 1 January 1999, when the national currencies of participating countries (the eurozone) ceased to exist independently. The euro thus became the successor to the European Currency Unit (ECU).

Release date: 29 December 1999
Designer: Damir Mataušić

Obverse

In the central part, it is written capital letter E (from Euro). Over the letter, there are 12 different stylized stars dispersed. That is the symbol of European Union. Under the letter, there is written the year of minting and on the left side of the year is written the signature of engraver (DM).

E
DM 1999.

Reverse

The central part of the coin's core carries the designation of the nominal value 25. Within the numeral outlines, the figure of a pine marten running towards the right is shown; the marten's body is integrated with the numeral denoting the nominal value. In the bottom, central part of the coin's ring the coat of arms of the Republic of Croatia is impressed. A blooming laurel branch is placed in a semicircle on the left to the coat of arms, while a common oak branch with fruits is on the right. The top part of the ring carries the semicircular inscription The Republic of Croatia.

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 martens are slender, agile animals, adapted to living in taigas, and are found in coniferous and northern deciduous forests across the Northern Hemisphere. They have bushy tails, and large paws with partially retractible claws. The fur varies from yellowish to dark brown, depending on the species, and, in many cases, is valued by fur trappers.

The coat of arms of the Republic of Croatia consists of one main shield and five smaller shields which form a crown over the main shield. The main coat of arms is a checkerboard (chequy) that consists of 13 red and 12 silver (white) fields. It's also informally known in Croatian as šahovnica ("chessboard", from šah, "chess"). The five smaller shields represent five different historical regions within Croatia.

REPUBLIKA HRVATSKA
25
KUNA

Edge

25 Kuna

Introduction of Euro in EU

KM# 64 Schön# 78
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Copper Aluminum Nickel
Weight 12.75 g
Diameter 32 mm
Thickness 2.2 mm
Shape polygon
Sides 12
Alignment Medal
Mint
Croatian Monetary Institute (HNZ)

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