106) National Bank of Serbia issues: Coinage and Currency: “Dinara” or Dinars:
The
States of Serbia and Montenegro proclaimed their union as Serbia – Montenegro
(SCG) on 04.02.2003.
The
countries main exports are Agricultural products – Cereals, Cattle, Fruits,
Goats, Olives, Sheep, tobacco and Commodities – Manufactured goods, food and
live animals and raw materials.
The
Serbian Dinar (ISO code – RSD) is the official currency of Serbia, which is one
of the two Republics of Serbia-Montenegro (SCG). Both Montenegro and Kosovo and
Metohia shared the Yugoslav dinar with Serbia in the past, but have now
switched to the Euro. The dinar is sub-divided into 100 para (derived from the Arabic
word “bara” meaning “silver”.
The
earliest use of the dinar in Serbia dates back to 1214 during the reign
of Stefan Nemanjic. The earlier Serbian dinar coins were minted in silver due
to the abundant silver mines found in the country.
After
the Ottoman conquest in the mid-fifteenth century, several other foreign
currencies were circulated in Serbia till the mid-19th century.
In
1819, because of the confusion prevailing in the exchange rates of
various currencies, an official table of 43 coins being used in Serbia was
published (10 gold, 28 silver and 5 copper) listing out the exchange rates.
In
1867, the Ottoman Empire withdrew from Serbia, paving the way for
establishing an independent National Monetary system and circulation of coins
issued under the “First modern dinar”.
Accordingly,
in 1868, the first bronze coins were circulated in the denominations of 1,
5 and 10 para, followed by silver coins in 1875 in the denominations of
50 para, 1 and 2 dinar and 5 dinar in 1879, in which year gold coins
were also issued in the denominations of 20 dinars followed by 10 dinar gold
coins in 1882. In 1883, cupro-nickel coins in the denominations
of 5, 10 and 20 para were circulated.
Between
1873 and 1894, the dinar was treated at par with the French Franc.
In
1920, the Serbian dinar was replaced at par by the Yugoslav dinar which
circulated together with the Yugoslav krone.
In
1942, the Yugoslav dinar was substituted at par with the second Serbian
dinar for use in German occupied Serbia with 250 Serbian dinars being equal to
I Reichsmark. This was termed as the Second
modern dinar. Under this Series, zinc coins were circulated in the
denominations of 50 para, 1, 2, and 10 dinars.
In
1944, the Yugoslav dinar was circulated again by the Yugoslav Partisans
at the rate of 20 Serbian dinars being equal to one Yugoslav dinar.
In
2003, the Yugoslav dinar was substituted at par with the Serbian dinar
which is termed as the Third modern
dinar. The Yugoslav para and
dinar coins ceased to be legal tender on 01.01.2008 and could be exchanged at the
National Bank of Serbia authorized branches.
Under
the Third modern dinar series,
1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 Serbian dinar coins were introduced. The languages used on
all Dinar Banknotes and coins are “Slavic” languages.
Serbian coins:
On
the obverse of all the coins
there are the same inscriptions in Serbian using the Cyrillic and Latin
scripts.
(The
National Bank of Serbia, set
up on 02.07.1884, is the Central Bank of Serbia. Originally established as the
“Privileged National Bank of the Kingdom of Serbia”, since 2003 it is
functioning as the sole Printing and Minting Authority of currency and coins,
taking over from the Yugoslav dinar.
All
dinar Banknotes and coins are presently printed and minted respectively by the
Institute for Manufacturing Banknotes and Coins – Topcider for the Central Bank
- “National Bank of Serbia”).
Four
issues of the coin were circulated.
On
the obverse of the one dinara coin
is shown:
In
the 02.07.2003 issues: Issuer’s symbols, with
the text NBS written in Latin and Cyrillic letters) and logo of the National
Bank. The specifications of this coin are: Metal Composition: (Copper: 70 %;
Nickel: 12%; Zinc: 18%). Diameter: 20 mm; Weight: 4.34 gms.
In
the 02.07.2005 issues: National symbols
(Republic of Serbia Coat of Arms and the text Republic of Serbia written in
Latin and Cyrillic letters and issuer’s symbols as in the earlier issues. The
specifications of this coin are: Metal Composition: (75%; Nickel: 0.5%; Zinc:
24.5%); Diameter: 20 mm; weight: 4.26gms.
In
the 20.03.2009 issues and the 2011 series (the latter with the
modified great Coat of arms of the Republic of Serbia) the specifications are:
Metal Composition: Alloy of multilayer material – low carbon steel
electrochemically coated with a layer of copper on both sides; Diameter: 20 mm;
Weight: 4.20 gms.
(This Serbian Orthodox Monastery situated in Gracanica
village, near Pristina, Kosovo, was built in 1321 by King Stefan Milutin. The
Monastery has been placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List under the name of
“Medieval Monuments in Kosovo” as an extension of the “Visoki Decani” site).
Four
issues of the coin were circulated.
On the obverse
of the two dinara coin is shown:
In
the 02.07.2003 issues: Issuer’s symbols, with
the text NBS written in Latin and Cyrillic letters) and logo of the National
Bank. The specifications of this coin are: Metal Composition: (Copper: 70 %;
Nickel: 12%; Zinc: 18%). Diameter: 22 mm; Weight: 5.24 gms.
In
the 27.12.2006 issues: National symbols
(Republic of Serbia Coat of Arms and the text Republic of Serbia written in
Latin and Cyrillic letters and issuer’s symbols as in the earlier issues. The
specifications of this coin are: Metal Composition: (75%; Nickel: 0.5%; Zinc:
24.5%); Diameter: 22 mm; weight: 5.15 gms.
In
the 20.03.2009 issues and the 20.05.2011 issues (the latter with
the modified great Coat of arms of the Republic of Serbia) the specifications
are: Metal Composition is; alloy of multilayer material – low carbon steel
electrochemically coated with a layer of copper on both sides; Diameter: 22 mm;
Weight: 5.05 gms.
On
the reverse of the five dinara coin
is mentioned the denominational value of the coin in figure and letters and the
year of minting. The coin also shows the edifice of the Krusedol Monastery.
(This
is an Orthodox monastery on the Fruska Gora mountain in Northern Serbia in the
province of Vojvodina. It was built
between 1509 and 1514 by the last Serbian despot family of Srem – Brankovic.
This Monastery has been declared a “Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance
since 1990).
Three
Series of the coin were issued:
On
the obverse of the five dinara coin
is shown:
In
the 02.07.2003 Series: Issuer’s symbols, with
the text NBS written in Latin and Cyrillic letters) and logo of the National
Bank. The specifications of this coin are: Metal Composition: (Copper: 70 %;
Nickel: 12%; Zinc: 18%). Diameter: 24 mm; Weight: 6.23 gms.
In
the 02.07.2005 Series and the 20.05.2011
series: National symbols (Republic of Serbia Coat of Arms and the text
Republic of Serbia written in Latin and Cyrillic letters) and issuer’s symbols
as in the earlier issues (the 2011 Series with the modified great Coat of arms
of the Republic of Serbia). The specifications of this coin are: Metal
Composition: (75%; Nickel: 0.5%; Zinc: 24.5%); Diameter: 24 mm; weight: 6.13
gms.
On
the reverse of the ten dinara coin
is mentioned the denominational value of the coin in figure and letters and the
year of minting. The coin also shows the edifice of the Studenica Monastery in the 2003 and 2005 issues. This coin
was issued in 2003.
In the 2009 issues, motifs of the 25th Summer Universiade in Belgrade are shown.
In the 2009 issues, motifs of the 25th Summer Universiade in Belgrade are shown.
(The Studenica monastery is a Serbian Orthodox monastery situated near Kraljevo in Central Serbia. It is one of the largest and richest Serb Orthodox monasteries, founded by Stefan Nemanja in 1190. The monastery is best known for its collection of 13th and 14th century Byzantine style fresco paintings. The monastery contains two churches – the Church of the Virgin and the Church of the King, both constructed in white marble. Tudenica monastery has been placed in the list of “Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance” in 1979 and in the list of World Heritage sites of UNESCO in 1986).
On
the obverse of the ten dinara coin
is shown:
In
the 02.07.2003 Series: Issuer’s symbols, with
the text NBS written in Latin and Cyrillic letters) and logo of the National
Bank. The specifications of this coin are: Metal Composition: (Copper: 70 %;
Nickel: 12%; Zinc: 18%). Diameter: 26 mm; Weight: 7.77 gms.
In
the 02.07.2005 Series and 26.06.2009 Series:
National symbols (Republic of Serbia Coat of Arms and the text Republic of
Serbia written in Latin and Cyrillic letters) and issuer’s symbols as in the
earlier issues. The specifications of this coin are: Metal Composition: (70%;
Nickel: 12.0%; Zinc: 18.0%); Diameter: 26 mm; weight: 7.77 gms.
(The
Temple (Serbian “hram”) or Cathedral of Saint Sava is a Serbian orthodox church
which is the largest Orthodox Church in the World and is among the ten largest
church buildings in the World. The Church is dedicated to Saint Sava the
founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church on the site where his remains were said
to have been burned in 1595 by Sinan Pasha, of the Ottoman Empire).
Later
coin issues had the portraits of Nikola Tesla (30.07.2006 issues), Dositej
Obradovic (10.12.2007 issues), Milutin Milankovic (26.06.2009 issues), Georg
Weifert (16.06.2010 issues), Ivo Andric (20.05.2011 issues) and Mihajlo Pupin.
(Dositej
Obradovic (1742 – 1811): was a Serbian author, philosopher, linguist, traveler,
polyglot and Minister of Education. He advocated Serbian cultural and National renaissance.
He is the founder of modern Serbian literature. He became a monk in the Serb Orthodox
monastery. He also translated several European classics including “Aesop’s
Fables” into Serbian.
Milutin
Milankovic (1879 – 1958): detailed description given
below under 2000 dinar banknotes.
Georg
Weifert or Dorde Vajfert (1850 – 1937):
detailed description given below under 1000 dinar banknotes.
Ivan
“Ivo” Andric (1892 – 1975): was a Yugoslav novelist, short story writer and
the 1961 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. His writings mainly dealt
with life in his native Bosnia under the Ottoman Empire).
Mihajlo
Pupin (1858 – 1935): was a Serbian physicist
and physical chemist. He had several patents to his name including a method of
extending long-distance telephone communication by placing loading wire coils at
predetermined intervals along the transmitting wire known as “pupinization”. He
was one of the Founding members of National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
(NACA) in 1915, which has since transformed into NASA)
Seven
issues of the coin were circulated.
On
the obverse of the twenty dinara coin
is shown:
In
the 02.07.2003 issues, 30.07.2006 issues, 10.12.2007 issues, 26.06.2009
issues,16.06.2010 issues, 20.05.2011 issues and 08.06.2012 issues, :
the Republic of Serbia Coat of Arms, Issuer’s symbols, with the text NBS
written in Latin and Cyrillic letters) and logo of the National Bank of Serbia.
The
specifications of all these issues are: Metal Composition: (Copper: 70 %;
Nickel: 12%; Zinc: 18%). Diameter: 28 mm; Weight: 9.00 gms.
The
obverse of the coin issued in 2003.
Currency/Banknotes:
In
1876, the first modern dinar
Banknotes were introduced in the denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100
“dinara”.
In
1884, Chartered National Bank
issued banknotes in 10 dinara denomination and also issued silver and gold
notes for 50 and 100 dinara denominations.
Later,
in 1905, 20 dinara gold notes and 100 dinara silver notes were issued.
In
1915, stamps were circulated as bank notes in 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and
50 para.
In
1941 - 1943, the Second modern
Dinar Banknotes were issued by the Serbian National Bank in the
denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 dinara.
In
2003, Banknotes of the National Bank of Serbia were introduced in
the denominations of 100, 1000 and 5000 dinara.
In
2004, 500 dinara banknotes were introduced.
In
2005, 50 dinara banknotes were introduced.
In
2006, 10 and 20 dinara notes were issued.
In
2011, 2000 dinara notes were circulated.
On
01.01.2007 banknotes issued by the National Bank of Yugoslavia which
were circulated between 2000 and 2003 were withdrawn from circulation.
On the Back, the 10 Dinar Banknote, when viewed vertically, there is the photo of Vuk Stefanovic Karadzic, participants in the first Slavic Congress held in Prague in 1848 and vignette of letters. The great Coat of Arms of the Republic of Serbia is in the top left hand corner of the Banknote, against an ochre background.
(Vuk
Stefanovic Karadzic (1784 – 1864) was a Serbian philologist and linguist who
was a major reformer of the Serbian language. His collection of songs, fairy
tales and riddles have earned him the nickname “Father of the study of Serbian
folklore”. He also authored the first Serbian dictionary in his new reformed
language).
The
colour of the Banknote is predominantly ochre-yellow with brown and yellow
tones.
The
size of the Note is 62 mm x 131 mm. The 2006 series 10 dinar banknote was
released into circulation on 19.05.2006, while the 2011 Series 10 dinar
banknote bearing the same designs on front and back was released on 30.09.2011.
(Petar
II Petrovic Njegos (1813-1851) was the Prince – Bishop of Montenegro, the
Serbian Orthodox Metropolitan of Citinje. He was a philosopher and poet who
through his establishment of Montenegrin secular Organs was responsible for the
secularization of Montenegro. He was the most acclaimed poet of his time).
The
colour of the Banknote is green, ochre-yellow and discreetly black.
The
size of the Note is 64 mm x 135 mm.
The
2006 series 20 dinar banknote was released into circulation on 18.07.2006,
while the 2011 Series 20 dinar banknote bearing the same designs on front and
back was released on 30.09.2011.
On the Front of the 50
Dinar Banknote there is the portrait of
the composer Stevan Stevanovic Mokranjac, and stylized depiction of a
part of violin, keyboards and scores from the Mokranjac Legacy to the
right of the portrait. The logo of the National Bank of Serbia is also seen on
the front, with the words “Narodna Banka Srbije”. There are also the words “pedeset
dinara” alongside the numeral “50” denoting the denomination of the
banknote.
(Stevan
Stojanovic (1856 – 1914) was a Serbian composer and music educator. His work
was focused mainly on bringing the spirit of Valach Serbian unwritten/oral folk
poems into an organized art form. A significant number of his works were
composed for church services. Some of his notable works include – fifteen
“Rukoveti” based on songs and music on motives of Serbian folk music from
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia Proper, Montenegro, Kosovo and Metoija,
Macedonia and Bulgaria, “Tebe pojem” and “Cherubic Hymn”).
The
colour of the Banknote is Violet with an ochre hue.
The
size of the Note is 66 mm x 139 mm.
The 2006 series 50 dinar banknote was released
into circulation on 15.11.2005, while the 2011 Series 50 dinar banknote bearing
the same designs on front and back was released on 30.06.2011.
(Nikola
Tesla (1856 – 1943) was a Serbian – American inventor, electrical engineer,
mechanical engineer, physicist and futurist, best known for his contributions
to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system.
Tesla gained experience in telephony and engineering and emigrated to the USA
where in 1884 he worked with Thomas A. Edison. He set up several laboratories
and companies for developing a range of electrical devices and patented the AC
induction motor among other novel innovations/inventions. In 1960, the General
Conference on Weights and Measures for the International System of Units gave
the name “Tesla” to the SI unit measure for magnetic field strength).
On the Back of the 100
Dinar Banknote, when viewed vertically,
there is an image of Nikola Tesla, based on his photograph kept in his Museum
in Belgrade, a sketch of Tesla’s electro-magnetic induction engine and Tesla’s
dove. The great Coat of Arms of the Republic of Serbia is in the top left hand
corner of the Banknote against a blue background.
The
colour of the Banknote is predominantly light and marine blue, with greenish
and ochre yellow tones.
The
size of the Note is 68 mm x 143 mm.
The
2003 series 100 dinar banknote was released into circulation on 02.07.2003, the
2004 series 100 dinar banknote was released into circulation on 17.09.2004, and
the 2006 series 100 dinar banknote was released into circulation on 20.10.2006,
while the 2012 Series 100 dinar banknote bearing the same designs on front and
back was released on 11.05.2012.
(Nadezda
Petrovic (1873 – 1915) is the most important Serbian woman painter specializing
in “Impressionist” and “Fauvist” Art Forms/styles. She closed her teaching
studio in 1914 and volunteered to serve as a nurse in World War I).
The
colour of the Banknote is predominantly amber red and brown with blue tones.
The
size of the Note is 70 mm x 147 mm.
The
2005 series 200 dinar banknote was released into circulation on 02.07.2005, while
the 2011 Series 200 dinar banknote bearing the same designs on front and back
was released on 30.09.2011.
(Jovan
Cvijic (1865 – 1927) was a Serbian geographer, President of the Serbian Royal
Academy of Sciences and Rector of the University of Belgrade. He was a world
renowned scientist and considered to be the founder of Geography and geology in
Serbia. He was also a noted anthropogeographer and sociologist. He published
several important scientific works, one of the most important ones being on “The
Balkan Peninsula”).
The
colour of the Banknote is Blue green tones with greenish and yellowish colours.
The
size of the Note is 70 mm x 147 mm.
The
2004 series 500 dinar banknote was released into circulation on 17.04.2004,
while the 2011 Series 500 dinar banknote bearing the same designs on front and
back was released on 30.12.2011 and the 2012 issues were put into circulation
from 07.12.2012.
(Dorde
Vajfert (1850 – 1937) was a Serbian industrialist and Governor of the National
Bank of Serbia and later, Governor of the National Bank of Yugoslavia. He is
regarded as the founder of modern mining sector in Serbia).
The
colour of the Banknote is predominantly bright red, with yellowish and gray
blue tones.
The
size of the Banknote is 72 mm x 151 mm.
The
2003 series 1000 dinar banknote was released into circulation on 24.03.2003 and
15.09.2003, while the 2006 Series 1000 dinar banknote bearing the same designs
on front and back was released on 18.07.2006 and the 2011 issues were put into
circulation from 30.12.2011.
On the Front of the 2000
Dinar Banknote, there is the portrait of Milutin
Milankovic on the left and another one of him sitting at a desk in the
centre of the Banknote. Also shown on the Banknote is a graphic presentation of
his calculations of the movement of the snow line for the past portion of
the Quarternary of 600000 years. The logo of the National Bank of Serbia is
also seen on the front, with the words “Narodna Banka Srbije”. There are also
the words “dve hiljade dinara” alongside the numeral “2000” denoting the
denomination of the banknote.
(Milutin
Milankovic was a Serbian mathematician, astronomer, geophysicist,
climatologist, civil engineer, technologist, university professor and writer.
He made two important contributions to global science: the first being the “Canon
of the Earth’s Insolation” which characterizes the climates of all the planets
of the Solar System, while the second contribution is the explanation of Earth’s
long – term climate changes in the position of the Earth vis-à-vis the Sun, now
called the “Milankovitch cycles” which explained the ice ages occurring in the
geological past of the Earth and future climate changes on Earth. He is also
the founder of cosmic climatology).
On
the Back of the 2000 Dinar Banknote, when viewed vertically, there is
an image of a standing Milutin Milankovic. There is also a portion of a
stylized presentation of the sun disk in the centre. A representation of
his work “The Path of the north Celestial Pole” also appears on the
Banknote. The great Coat of Arms of the Republic of Serbia is in the top left
hand corner of the Banknote against an olive background.
The
colour of the Banknote is predominantly grey olive, with yellowish-orange and
gray blue nuances.
The
size of the Banknote is 74 mm x 155 mm.
The
2011 series 2000 dinar banknote was released into circulation on 30.12.2011
while the 2012 Series 2000 dinar banknote bearing the same designs on front and
back was released on 07.12.2012.
On the Front of the 5000
Dinar Banknote, there is the portrait of
Slobodan Jovanovic. The logo of the National Bank of Serbia is also seen on the
front, with the words “Narodna Banka Srbije”. There are also the words “pet
hiljada dinara” alongside the numeral “5000” denoting the denomination of the
banknote.
(Slobodan
Jovanovic was one of Serbia’s most prolific historians, sociologists,
journalists and literary critics. He was one of the greatest authorities on
constitutional law. Well versed in Serbian prose style, he was also a leader in
the Serbian intelligentsia).
On
the Back of the 5000 Dinar Banknote, when viewed vertically, there is
an image of Slobodan Jovanovic. In the background is a view of the
Federal Parliament together with an image of the seating arrangement inside the
Parliament building. The great Coat of Arms of the Republic of Serbia is in the
top left hand corner of the Banknote against a mauve background.
The
colour of the Banknote is predominantly green, with violet and gray-yellow
tones.
The
size of the Banknote is 76 mm x 159 mm.
The 2003 series 5000 dinar banknote was
released into circulation on 02.07.2003 while the 2010 Series 5000 dinar
banknote bearing the same designs on front and back was released on 26.11.2010.
Coat of Arms of Serbia:
The
current Coat of Arms of Serbia has been adopted since 2004. It underwent a
slight modification in 2010, while retaining most of the earlier basic
elements.
The
Crest consists of a golden
crown.
The
Escutcheon: Gules, a
bicephalic eagle Argent armed Or, two fleur – de – lis Or. Overall an
escutcheon Gules, a cross Argent between four firesteels Argent.
Other Elements:
A Coat of Arms is draped with a crimson (porphyry) mantle embroidered gold,
with a golden fringe, toed up with golden braid with tassels of the same, lined
with ermine. Above the mantle is a pavilion gules again with nine fleur – de –
lis Or and crowned with a golden crown.
(Although
Serbia is now a Republic, the Coat of Arms also features the crown of the
former monarchy).
(The
previous Coat of Arms of the Socialist Republic of Serbia was in use from 1947
to 2009).
Explanations of terms used
in the Coat of Arms:
GULES:
(red in Heraldry)
OR:
(tincture gold or yellow in Armorial bearings)
Fleur
– de – lis : (A lily-flower, also referred to as the Heraldic lily)
ARGENT:
(The silver of a Coat of Arms or silvery white or the white colour in Heraldry
or armorial bearings)
(The coins and Banknotes are from the collection of Ajit George. Scanning done and article researched and written by Rajeev Prasad )
Ramchandra Lalingkar has commented on 25.06.2013:
ReplyDelete"Very good research work done ! Keep it up."
Thank you for your encouragement.
ReplyDeleteI find the architecture themed Serbian coin set very appealing.. Nice consistency of design across all the coins.
ReplyDelete