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Sunday 31 March 2024

3236) Croatia: Elusive Brusnik Black Lizard Features on New Gold (10 Euro) and Silver (4 Euro) Commemorative Coins: "Autochthonous Croatia Coin Series": Coins issued by the Croatian National Bank (CNB):Date/Year of Coins issue: 18.03.2024:

3236) Croatia: Elusive Brusnik Black Lizard Features on New Gold (10 Euro) and Silver (4 Euro) Commemorative Coins: "Autochthonous Croatia Coin Series": Coins issued by the Croatian National Bank (CNB):Date/Year of Coins issue: 18.03.2024:

The Croatian National Bank has brought out its latest gold and silver collector coins which is a part of a popular numismatic series titled - "Autochthonous Croatia".

A detailed image of the Black Lizard features on new gold 10 Euro and 4 Euro silver coins. The Header/Banner presents a Black Lizard on a rocky terrain against the Obverse and Reverse os the Coins. The Header is titled - "Black Lizard".

At the end of 2021, the first series of gold and silver collector coins in this series were released featuring species and that featured was the distinctive Dalmatian dog. 

This year, the coin’s design is dedicated to the "Black Lizard," one of the most famous inhabitants of the historically rich and beautiful but miniscule island of Brusnik. 

Due to its geological history marked by volcanic origin and the presence of porous limestone, Brusnik has been protected as a natural monument since 1951

The island is home to numerous endemic species, and one of its inhabitants enjoying the environment of crystal-clear sea and colourful underwater landscapes is the black lizard. Recognisable by its black colour and turquoise-blue spots, the black lizard or Podarcis melisellensis melisellensis to reference its scientific name is a thriving symbol of wildlife nature, conservation and biodiversity.

The Coins:

The Gold (4 Euro) and Silver (4 Euro) BU quality Coins have been minted by the Croatian Mint at their facilities in Sveta Nedelja on behalf of the Croatian National Bank. 

Designed by Nikola Vudrag, his detailed depiction of the Black Lizard introduces a story that may not be widely known but is certainly worth highlighting.

The Obverse of the Gold (4 Euro) and Silver (4 Euro) features a beautifully detailed depiction of the Black Lizard close up and peeking out from behind a rock with the outline of the island of Brusnik along with a linear surface pattern shown as a background. The text along the upper left rim denotes the country "REPUBLIKA HRVATSKA" (Croatia) and the text along the right periphery reads "CRNA GUSTERICA (Black Lizard)". 

The denomination "10 EURO (Gold) or 4 EURO (Silver)" is seen along the lower right periphery. 

The Reverse of the Coin depicts the topography of the island of Brusnik with sea waves in the background along with a vivid, full image of the black lizard placed to the left side. 

The year "2024" is shown just along the periphery to the left of the Black lizard and the text "PODARCIS MELISELLENSIS MELISELLENSIS" is shown along the rim of the right side. 

The specifications of the Coin are:

i) Silver Coin Variant:

Country of issue: Croatia; Year of Coin issue: 2024; Coin Series Theme: "Autochthonous Croatia"; Coin Theme: Black Lizard; Denomination: 4.00 Euro; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU); Metal Composition: .999.9 Fineness Silver (Ag); Diametr/Size: 15.00 mm; Weight: 31.1 grams or 1.00 Oz; Minted ByCroatian Mint at their facilities in Sveta Nedelja on behalf of the Croatian National Bank; DesignerNikola Vudrag; Mintage: 4.000 pieces.

ii) Gold Coin Variant:

Country of issue: Croatia; Year of Coin issue: 2024; Coin Series Theme: "Autochthonous Croatia"; Coin Theme: Black Lizard; Denomination: 10.00 Euro; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU); Metal Composition: .999.9 Fineness Gold (Au); Weight: 1.94 grams; Diameter/Size: 15.00 mm; Minted ByCroatian Mint at their facilities in Sveta Nedelja on behalf of the Croatian National Bank; DesignerNikola Vudrag; Mintage: 2000 pieces.

- Both the Gold and Silver BU coins are encapsulated and presented in a custom branded case and accompanied with a certificate of authenticity (COA)

- Dispatch commences from the 18th March.





Links: Crypto-Currency Stamps & Coin Posts:

1) Croatian Crypto Stamp - 2, Croatia: A 50 HRK stamp (a combination of the analog and the digital) issued by "Hrvatska Posta" (Croatian Post) in coordination with the Croatian Blockchain community gathered around the Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Association: Date of Stamp issue: 16.12.2020

2) Did You Know Series (49): Dogecoin (DOGE), Blockchain Mint, Singapore: Blockchain Mint has issued Silver DOGE Medals in three variants - i) Silver Dogecoin Cryptocurrency Medal Gem BU, ii) Silver Dogecoin Cryptocurrency Medal Proof-Like in Blister Pak, iii) Dogecoin Cryptocurrency Commemorative Medal Antiqued in Blister Pak: Date of Medal release/shipping: 05/2021

3) Did You Know Series (50): A Guest Post by Avery Wright: "Is Making the Crypto Space Legally Complaint Paving the Road to Mass (Blockchain) Adoption?" - A perspective:

4) Gibraltar Cryptocurrency Stamp: Stamp value 4 Pounds: Date of Stamp issue: 15.05.2021: (Pre-orderd accepted from 19.04.2021):

5) Bitcoin Backed Banknotes are being envisaged by "Noteworthy" which are aimed at generating user confidence in the Cryptocurrency

6) "Blockchain Technology", Principality of Liechtenstein: A Crypto Stamp of CHF 5.20 titled "Perspective" issued by Liechtensteinische Post: Date of Stamp issue: 06.09.2021

7) "Bitcoin Logo", Niue Island: A $2 (Two Dollars) Silver Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) Coin features this iconic Logo of the well known Cryptocurrency: Year of Coin issue: 2022

8) Crypto-stamp - Rimec Nevera, Croatia: Htvatska posta (Croatian Post) has issued a Crypto-stamp Souvenir Sheet (a combination of the analog and the digital) of One Stamp of HRK50.00 on a PVC background: Date of Crypto-stamp issue: 09.09.2021

9) "UN Crypto Stamps", United Nations: "New Technologies for the United Nations Stamp Series": United Nations Postal Administration brought out its first time ever UN Crypto Stamps, which run on Etherium Blockchain: Date of Stamps issue: 24.11.2020

10) "Equality", Liechtenstein: A "BlockChain Stamp Series: A Stamp 4.1 "Equality issued by Liechtensteinische Post (Philately Liechtenstein) with a face value of CHF 9.00): Date of Stamp issue: 09.09.2022

11) Croatian Crypto Stamp, Croatia: A 50 HRK Stamp (a combination of the analog and the digital) issued by "Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) in coordination with the Croatian Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Association: Date of Crypto Stamp issue: 09.09.2020

12) Crypto Stamp 4.0 - Grab the Bull by the Horns - set, Austria: Osterreichische Post AG (Austrian Post) has released a Joint-issue between two countries - Austria and Netherlands, featuring the new technology "Augmented Reality", with a new motif of the Bull: Date of Crypto Stamp issue: 28.10.2022

13) "UN Crypto Stamps", United Nations: "New Technologies for the United Nations Stamp Series": Series II of United Nations Crypto Stamps issued by the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) which run on Blockchain Technolgy: Date of Stamps issue:18.11.2022

14) 2022 NL Crypto Stamp - Duo Set Crypto The Netherlands (NL) + Oostenrijk (Austria) - Collectibles: Date of Joint Crypto Stamp issue: 22.09.2022

15) Nikola Tesla's inventions as motifs feature on Croatia's Fourth Crypto Stamp of 50 HRK issued by Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post): Date of Crypto Stamp issue: 20.12.2022

16) Professor Balthazar motifs feature on Croatia's Fifth Crypto Stamp of 7.80 Euro issued by Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post): Date of Crypto Stamp issue: 07.09.2023

17) "The Four Seasons" Crypto Stamps, Faroe Islands: The Faroe Islands Post (Posta Faroe Islands) has issued a set of four Crypto Stamps of 100 DKK (Danish Kroners) each featuring the "Four Seasons": Date of Stamp set issue: 23.06.2023

Related Links on this Blog:

1) 200 Years of the Discovery of Antarctica, Estonia: A 2 Euro Commemorative Coin dedicated the the Bicentenary of the Discovery of Antarcticca by Admiral Fabian Gottlieb Benjamin von Bellingshausen on board the "Vostok": Coin issue date: 01/2020

2) Solomon Islands: 250th Anniversary of Captain James Cook's first Pacific "Voyage of Discovery" and charting of New Zealand and Australia's East Coast: Date of Coin issue: 2020















Links to Posts on Croatia on this Blog:












15) Crypto-stamp - Rimec Nevera, Croatia: Htvatska posta (Croatian Post) has issued a Crypto-stamp Souvenir Sheet (a combination of the analog and the digital) of One Stamp of HRK 50.00 on a PVC background: Date of Crypto-stamp issue: 09.09.2021

17) Croatian Crypto Stamp, Croatia: A 50 HRK Stamp (a combination of the analog and the digital) issued by "Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) in coordination with the Croatian Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Association: Date of Cryptoo Stamp issue: 09.09.2020

18) "Peljesac Bridge", Republic of Croatia: The Croatian National Bank (CNB) has issued a 25 Kuna Commemorative Circulation Coin to mark the opening of this bridge: Date/Year of Coin issue: 26.07.2022

19) Shunting Locomotives, Croatia: Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a set of two stamps of HRK 10 each featuring shunting locomotives: Date of Stamp set issue: 06.10.2022

20) Minerals and Rocks, Croatia: Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued two Postage Stamps of HRK 5.00 each on this fascinating Geological subject: Date of Stamp Set issue: 20.10.2022

21) i) The World's smallest Gold Coin minted by the Croatian National Bank (CNB) marks farewell to Kuna currency as Croatia adopts the Euro: ii) The last 1000-Kuna commemorative coin of Croatia for 2022 is dedicated to the Visnjan Observatory: Date/Year of Coin issue: 12/2022

22) Croatian Postage Stamps (or Hrvatske Postanske Marke"), Croatia: A Stamp Album of 29 Postage Stamps issued by Croatian Post in 2016

23) Introduction of the Euro as the Official Currency of the Republic of Croatia: Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a postage stamp of 1.14 Euro celebrating the inclusion of the country in the Euro Area (EU): Date of Stamp issue: 25.01.2023

24) Plastic Waste in the Seas, Croatia: "Climate Change Stamp Series": Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a postage stamp of 1.14 Euro depicting the harmful effects of Plastic pollution in the World Oceans on Marine life and the ecological balance: Date of Stamp issue: 20.04.2023

25) The Croats Military Units - Contour Necktie, Croatia: First Coins issued in Euros after Croatia joined the European Union (EU): 6 Euro Silver and 100 Euro Gold Coins minted by the Mint of Croatia at their facilities in Sveta Nedelja, on behalf of the National Bank of Croatia: Date/Year of Coins issue: 02.05.2023

26) International Day of Families (15th May), Croatia: Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a postage stamp of 0.47 Euro highlighting the importance of the International Day of Families: Date of Stamp issue: 15.05.2023

27) Castles in Croatia: Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a set of four postage stamps depicting i) Batthyany, Ludbreg: ii Old Town, Varazdin: iii) Zrinski, Cakovec and iv) Festitic, Pribislavec - Castles, Fortresses, Palaces etc: Date of Stamp set issue: 18.05.2023

28) Professor Balthazar motifs feature on Croatia's Fifth Crypto Stamp of 7.80 Euro issued by Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post): Date of Crypto Stamp issue: 07.09.2023

29) Trsat Dragon, Croatia: 100 Euro (Gold) and 4 Euro (Silver) Bullion Collector Coins minted by the Croatian Mint at their facilities in Sveta Nedelja on behalf of the Croatian National Bank: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2024

30) Croatia: Elusive Brusnik Black Lizard features on ne Gold (10 Euro) and Silver (4 Euro) Commemorative Coins: "Autochthonous Croatia Coin Series": Coins issued by the Croatian National Bank (CNB): Date/Year of Coins issue: 18.03.2024

For some other interesting posts from United Nations Organisation, please visit the following links:



















26) "UN Crypto Stamps", United Nations: "New Technologies for the United Nations Stamp Series": United Nations Postal Administration brought out its first time ever UN Crypto Stamps, which run on Etherium Blockchain: Date of Stamps issue: 24.11.2020

27) World Humanitarian Day (19/08), United Nations (UN): The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) has issued stamps for three offices of the United Nations - Geneva, New York and Vienna commemorating the Day: Date/Year of Stamps issue: 19.08.2022

28) The Great SPA Towns of Europe, United Nations: The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) has issued two stamps each for their Geneva, New York and Vienna offices detailing six such towns: Date of Stamp set issue: 09.09.2022

29) UN International Year of Artisanal Fisheries & Aquaculture (IYAFA - 2022), Greenland: Tussass AS (formerly Greenland Technical Organisation and Telepost) has issued a postage stamp of DKK 29.50 highlighting IYAFA - 2022: Date ofStamp issue: 31.08.2022






Saturday 30 March 2024

3235) Plants of the Pohorje, Slovenia: Posta Slovenije d.o.o. (Slovenia Post) has issued a set of four stamps of "A", "B" "C" and "D" tariffs featuring the Pohorje massif: Date of Stamp set issue: 29.03.2024:

 3235) Plants of the Pohorje, Slovenia: Posta Slovenije d.o.o. (Slovenia Post) has issued a set of four stamps of "A", "B" "C" and "D" tariffs featuring the Pohorje massif: Date of Stamp set issue: 29.03.2024:

The plants featured on these stamps are species that are characteristic of Slovenia’s Pohorje massif. All are rare in Slovenia, while one only grows in the Pohorje and is found nowhere else in the country

The adoption of a document that will define the summit areas of the Pohorje as a regional park by virtue of their conserved natural environment has been planned for some time. “Plants of the Pohorje” were chosen as the designs for these stamps in the hope that this will further raise the profile of the future Pohorje Regional Park, which is currently in the process of being established. 

Bearded bellflower:

Found in Scandinavia and in much of central Europe, the north-western Balkans and the Pyrenees. It is a characteristic species of the montane (mountainous) zone, where it grows in cultivated meadows and pastures, among mountain pines and on natural grasslands in thesubalpine zone. 

The bearded bellflower is a perennial flowering plant in the Campanulaceae (bellflower) family that – like most of our bellflowers – has pendulous bell-shaped flowers. It is a distinctly acidophilic species, meaning that it grows in acidic soils. Such soils are rare in largely limestone Slovenia. They are most frequently found in the Karavanke range, and of course in the Pohorje, where this perennial is a typical inhabitant of acidic grasslands – the Pohorje high meadows – along with mat-grass and arnica. It can be recognised by its intense blue flowers, the insides of which are covered by long hairs that give it its “bearded” name. 

Rusty-leaved alpenrose:

This plant is found throughout the wider Alpine area and its range also extends into the Pyrenees. In Slovenia it occurs from the Julian Alps, via the Karavanke and Kamnik-Savinja Alps, to the Pohorje. 

It grows on acidic soils and is therefore considerably rarer than its close cousin the hairy alpenrose (Rhododendron hirsutum), which grows on limestone. It is characteristic of a geological substrate that produces an acidic reaction or of soil with local acidification, such as peat bog, all the way from the montane zone to the subalpine zone. Very rare in the Pohorje, it grows among mountain pines on boggy soil – alongside high peat bogs and boggy spruce forest. It takes the second part of its name from the initially yellowish and then rust-brown spots on the underside of its leaves, which clearly distinguishes it from the hairy alpenrose, which has green leaves edged with long hairs. 

Corrupt spleenwort:

This spleenwort looks very similar to two widespread and common ferns of the Asplenium genus – the maidenhair spleenwort and the green spleenwort – and is in fact a tetraploid hybrid (with doubled chromosomes) of the two. 

It occurs in Europe and Canada but is very rare throughout its range, since it has specific habitat requirements. In Slovenia it only grows over serpentine rocks, which are found in a few places in the Pohorje. It requires a moist substrate, bare rock and plenty of shade. This habitat is offered by serpentine rocks in the abandoned quarry above Zgornja Bistrica and by Radkovski Potok, a stream near Tinjska Gora. Owing to its rarity and endangered status, this plant is among the species of Europe-wide importance that are qualifying species for Natura 2000 areas.

The Stamps:

The Stamp with the value of "A" Tariff.

The Stamp with the value of "B" Tariff.

The Stamp with the value of "C" Tariff.

The Stamp with the value of "D" Tariff (MS) affixed.

A First Day Cover (FDC) bearing the three stamps affixed in the set. The Cancellation is of Maribor Post  Office and the date of cancellation is - "29.03.2024".

A First Day Cover (FDC) bearing the cancelled Miniature Sheet (MS)

Technical details:

Issue Date: 29.03.2024

Designer: Bearded Bellflower, Rusty- leaved Alpenrose, Corrupt Spleenwort

Illustrator: Maja Tomažič

Printer: Agencija za komercijalnu djelatnost d.o.o., Zagreb, Croatia

Process: Offset

Colours: 4 Colours (CMYK)

Size:42,60 x 29, 82 mm










Links to Posts on Slovenia on this Blog:

1) Republic of Slovenia (meaning -"The Land of the Slavs"):A 500 Tolarjev Banknote from Slovenia before the introduction of the Euro on 15.01.2007

2) "Contemporary Lacemaking", Slovenia: A Postage Stamp of 1.37 Euro released by Posta Slovenije (The Post of Slovenia) commemorating local Contemporary Lacemaking: Date of Stamp issue: 29.01.2021