4052) Slavoljub Penkala, Visionary Inventor, Croatia: "Croatian
Innovators Coin Series": Third Coin in the Series: 4 Euro Silver and 100 Euro Gold Proof Coins issued in commemoration of the famous innovator: Date/Year of Coins issue: 11.07.2025:
The Croatian National Bank has released Silver and Gold Collector Coins
dedicated the country's innovators.
The Reverse side includes a recreated marketing
photograph of Slavoljub Penkala.
The third coin subject in the popular numismatic series
entitled Croatian Innovators pays tribute to visionaries and inventors whose
work has helped shape the modern world.
Featured for 2025 is Slavoljub Penkala
(1871 – 1922) one of the most versatile inventors of the early 20th century.
Penkala’s inventions have left a lasting mark on the history of science,
industry, and technology and, during his career, he patented over 80
inventions. His work and contributions to science and industry have left a lasting
impact on both Croatian and world history.
Born as Eduard Penkala in the town of Liptószentmiklós,
present-day Liptovský Mikuláš in Slovakia and part of the Empire of
Austria-Hungary, his father Franciszek Pękała was of Polish heritage.
After
attending the Faculty of Medicine in Vienna at the University of Vienna and the
Royal Saxon Polytechnic Institute, he graduated from the latter in March 1898
and went on to earn a doctorate in organic chemistry. After completing his
studies, Penkala held a position at the Austro-Hungarian Ministry of Finance.
On the 24th January 1906, he was granted a patent for the
world's first mechanical pencil, the popular ballpoint pen, and the following
year in 1907 the first fountain pen with an ink cartridge.
Along with his
business partner Edmund Moster, they opened the
Penkala pen factory in Zagreb.
For the next 15 years the production
facility was one of the largest writing instrument factories in the world and
Penkala mechanical pens and fountain pens were exported to more than 70
countries.
However, despite the advantages of a modern production facility, the
demand for new pens increased so much that production could not meet the needs
of the market at the time.
As a way of honouring his new homeland, Penkala
became a naturalised citizen of Croatia and adopted the name Slavoljub which is
a Croatian word for ‘slavophile’.
Ultimately, his surname Penkala came to be
used to refer to ballpoint pens in the Croatian language.
Penkala was much more than just the inventor of the
well-known automatic mechanical pencil.
He was a symbol of the innovative
spirit at the turn of the 20th century. During his career, he was granted over
80 patents, including an invention for the first Croatian aircraft to fly in
the country.
The Penkala 1910 Biplane was also piloted by Dragutin Novak,
remembered as the first Croatian pilot.
Sadly, while on business travel, he met
with bad weather and became very sick after returning home, dying from pneumonia
at the young age of 50.
He was survived by his wife and four children and was
laid to rest in the Mirogoj Cemetery in Zagreb.
Today, Penkala’s name and work
remains a part of cultural and scientific heritage both in the Republic of
Croatia and the world.
The Gold and Silver Coins:
The 100 Euro Gold and 4 Euro Silver proof quality coins share the same
design and are produced by the Croatian Mint at their facilities in Sveta
Nedelja on behalf of the Croatian National Bank.
The coins have been designed by
Italian artist Ilaria Longo who has featured a familiar image of Slavoljub
Penkala on the Reverse recreated from a marketing photograph.
To the left of
the image of Penkala is the year of issue "2025" and to the right is a replica of
the familiar Penkala logo which was used on presentation and adverts.
In the
background are rectangular shapes symbolising stamps and postcards.
The Obverse
side of the Gold and Silver Coins features the depiction of Penkala’s automatic mechanical pen, the tip is
shown through the perspective of the magnifying glass, and behind are squares
referencing the coat of arms of the Republic of Croatia.
In the background, and
matching that of the Reverse are rectangular shapes symbolising postcards and
postage stamp outlines.
To the lower right is the denomination "100 EURO (Gold)" or "4 EURO (Silver)".
Along the lower right periphery is the text "REPUBLIKA HRVATSKA".
The specifications of the Coins are:
Denomination Metal Weight Diameter Quality Limited
Mintage
4 Euro 999.9
Silver 31.1 g. 38.6 mm. Proof 1000 pieces
100 Euro 999.9 Gold 31.1 g. 32
mm. Proof 100 pieces
- Available from the 11th July, each Proof coin is
encapsulated and presented in a custom case accompanied with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
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
31) Croatia: "Croatian Heritage Coin Series": Distinctive Traditional Costume features on new (100 nEuro) Gold and 4 & 6 Euro Silver Proof & Colour Coins: Coins issued by Croatian National Bank (CNB): Date of Coins issue: 19.08.2024:
32) 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
33) "Puratic Wheel", Croatia: "Croatian Innovators Coin Series": Croatian National Bank, in cooperation with the Croatian Mint has brought out Gold and Silver editions of this innovation: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2024
Castles of Croatia Stamp Series:
34) i) Castles of Croatia: Four Castles in Croatia depicted on postage stamps of the values of 3.30 HRK each issued by Hrvatska posta (Croatian Post) - i) Brezovica Manor, ii) Erdody Castle, iii) Laduc Manor and Nori Dvori: Date of Stamp Set issue: 20.05.2021
34) ii) 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
34) iii) Castles of Croatia: Four Postage stamps of 0.65 Euro each issued by Hrvatka Posta (Croation Post) presenting Klenovnik Castle, Msarusevec Castle, Miljana Castle and Nori Marof Castle: Date/Year of Stamps issue: 10.02.2025
35) "Murals, Pop Culture - Street Art, Croatia: Hrvatska Posta (Croatian Post) has issued a Cuuvenir Sheet of four postage stamps of 1.70 Euro each depicting Street Art of Croatia: Date/Year of Stamp Set issue: 20.02.2025
36) National Archeological Discoveries, Croatia: Hrvatska posta ("Croatian Post") has issued two EUROPA Stamps featuring two discoverires from SALONA - the Vucedol Dove and the amphitheatre: Date/Year of Stamps issue: 09.05.2025
37) Slavoljub Penkala, Visionary Inventor, Croatia: "Croatian Innovators Coin Series": Third Coin in the Series: 4 Euro Silver and 100 Euro Gold Proof Coins issued in commemoration of the famous innovator: Date/Year of Coins issue: 11.07.2025
Rajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very interesting and informative."
Thank you so much, Trikha sahab.
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