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History of the croatian kuna
Back in the Roman times, in provinces of upper and lower Pannonia (today Hungary and Slavonia) taxes were collected in the then highly valued marten skins. Hence the Croatian word 'marturina' or tax, derived from Latin word 'martus' (Croatian: 'kuna'). In the Middle Ages many foreign monies were used in Croatia, but since at least 1018 a home currency was in use. Between 1260 and 1380 the Croatian Viceroys were making a marten-adorned silver coin. However, the diminishing autonomy of Croatia within the Croatia-Hungarian Kingdom led to gradual disappearance of that currency.
The marten currency, Kuna, reappeared in 1939 when the Banate Croatia, established within the Yugoslav Monarchy, considered issuing its own money. Kuna was launched in 1941 by the Croatian collaborationist government, abolished with the end of World War II.
Finally, following Croatia's declaration of independence in 1991, Kuna currency was introduced as of 30 May 1994.
Description of kuna banknotes
5 kuna
Motif: Obverse: Portrait of the Croatian Duke Fran Krsto Frankopan (1643-1671) and the Croatian Ban Petar Zrinski (1621-1671); Croatian aristocrats and leaders of the movement for emancipation from Vienna
Reverse: Keep of Varaždin Castle (12th-16th) century, built within the fortification along the border of Vojna krajina (Military Border). Also a ground plan of the Castle
10 kuna
Motif: Obverse: Portrait of JURAJ DOBRILA (1812-1882), Bishop of Poreč and Trieste, promoter of the Croatian Revival Movement in Istria
Reverse: Arena in Pula, Istria (1st century), one of the six still preserved Roman amphitheaters and a ground plan of the small city Motovun in Istria
20 kuna
Motif: Obverse: Portrait of the Croatian Ban and general Josip Jelačić (1801-1859). He abolished serfdom and defended Croatian autonomy.
Reverse: Motif of the castle of Count Eltz in Vukovar and the motif of the dove of Vucedol, an eneolithic ceramic cult vessel in the form of a bird (3rd century b.C.)
50 kuna
Motif: Obverse: Portrait of Ivan Gundulić (1589-1638), the greatest poet of the Croatian Renaissance literature, author of the ode to independence of the Dubrovnik Republic "Oh, beautiful, oh dear, oh sweet freedom!"
Reverse: Motif of the old center of the city of Dubrovnik, until 1808 the capital of the independent Republic, today on the UNESCO's World Heritage List. At the bottom is the front elevation of the Prince's Palace, a building of the 15th century.
100 kuna
Motif: Obverse: Portrait of Ivan Mažuranić (1814-1890), Croatian Ban and poet, who declared Croatian language official and imposed obligatory education. Furter, there is a fragment of the Baška Inscription from the Convent of St. Lucy in Baška on the island of Krk.
Reverse: Motif and a ground plan of the church of St. Vid in Rijeka, patron of the city. The church is typical for its octagon ground plan
(early 17th century)
200 kuna
Motif: Obverse: Portrait of Stjepan Radić (1871-1928), a charismatic Croatian political leader between the two world wars, who was assassinated 1928 in the Yugoslav parliament for acting against the Great-Serbian hegemony
Reverse: Motif of the building of the general headquarters in Osijek, the command for borders of Vojna krajina, as well as the ground plan of the old fortress in Osijek
500 kuna
Motif: Obverse: Portrait of Marko Marulić (1450-1524), writer and humanist, the father of Croatian literature. In 1501 he wrote the first Croatian epic "Judita".
Reverse: Motif of Diocletian's Palace, Split, a late Roman building from the 3rd century, also on the UNSECO's World Heritage List. Today it is a heart of the Dalmatia's capital and the second largest Croatian town Split. Furthermore, there is the figure of a Croatian ruler from the 11th century.
1000 kuna
Motif: Obverse: Portrait of Ante Stračević (1823-1896), a politician and the foremost advocate of his time for the idea of the Croatian nation.
Reverse: Monument to the first Croatian king Tomislav (925) and a motif of the front elevation of Zagreb's cathedral of St. Stephan, which has been renewed in neo-gothic style after a strong earthquake in 1880 on foundations of the first cathedral from 1217.
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