Obverse. Photo © Banka Slovenije
  • 30 Euro 2023, KM# 161, Slovenia, 110th Anniversary of Birth of Boris Pahor
  • 30 Euro 2023, KM# 161, Slovenia, 110th Anniversary of Birth of Boris Pahor
Description

Boris Pahor (1913–2022) was a Slovene novelist from Trieste (which at that time was part of Austria-Hungary), who was best known for his heartfelt descriptions of life as a member of the Slovenian minority in pre–Second World War increasingly fascist Italy as well as a Nazi concentration camp survivor.

His success was not immediate; openly expressing his disapproval of communism in Yugoslavia, he was not acknowledged and was probably intentionally not recognized by his homeland until after Slovenia had gained its independence in 1991. His autobiographical novel Nekropola, published in 1967, was first translated into English (in 1995) as Pilgrim Among the Shadows, and secondly (in 2010) as Necropolis.

He was awarded the Legion of Honour by the French government and the Cross of Honour for Science and Art by the Austrian government and was nominated for the Nobel prize for literature by the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts. Pahor was married to the author Radoslava Premrl (1921–2009) and wrote a book dedicated to her at the age of 99.

Design: Daniela Vidmar Podboj and Tomaž Podboj
Issue date: 19.09.2023

Obverse

Depicts the value in the centre, the country name and the issue date below, with birds flying at the top left.

30
EURO
SLOVENIJA 2023

Reverse

Depicts the text from Boris Pahor's story Stari svetilnik (The Old Lighthouse). The letters fade towards the right, turning into birds flying away. The birds symbolise freedom, while also illustrating the message that Pahor's books sent across the world through their numerous translations.

BORIS PAHOR 1913

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.925
Weight 15 g
Diameter 32 mm
Thickness 2.39 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Italian State Mint and Polygraphic Institute (IPZS)

Related coins

110th Anniversary of Birth of Boris Pahor

Cupronickel, 15 g, ⌀ 32 mm