Beginning of XIX century in Croatia was marked by French conquests lead by Napoleon. By 1809. whole Dalmatia along with most of Istria and Kvarner islands were under French Empire. In the next four years, they have conquered more than half of today Croatia territory, with Sava river as north-eastern border. Region was divided into 7 provinces, with major capital Ljubljana, now capital of Slovenia. But very soon, in 1813./1814. they have totally lost control under this territory. Although French rule caused cultural prosperity, coinage was limited to siege issues of towns Zadar (Zara) and Kotor (Cattaro). Both towns issued their own coins when they were under siege in 1813. ZARA issued silver emergency coins in 3 denominations: 1 lira or 4.60 Francs (30,6g), 2 lire or 9.20 Francs (61.1g) and 4 lire or 18.40 Francs (122.4g). The largest coin is known in two types, with a small and large stamp, both equally rare. Also, patterns are known for 2 and 4 lire in white metal, but they are very rare. CATTARO issued cast silver emergency coins in 3 denominations, too: 1 Franc (5.5-6.3g), 5 Francs (28-30g) and 10 Francs (59-60g). Of course, before this siege regular issues of French Franc circulated normally.

   In other parts of Croatia, which have had some kind of autonomy under Hungarian crown, Krajczar and Forint were major currencies. After French troops leaved occupied territory, most of it was connected with free Croatian countries and Kingdom of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia was proclaimed, an autonomy under Hungary. Istria was taken under Austrian crown, so there mostly circulated Kreuzer and Florin. During revolutions across Austro-Hungarian empire in 1848.-1849., because lack of coined money, Zagreb mint also issued its own coins: copper KRIŽAR, valued same as Hungarian Krajczar or Austrian Kreuzer, and silver FORINT, which was an equivalent to Hungarian Forint or Austrian Florin. Thoose coins are minted in very small quantities and never entered widely into the circulation. Soon they were destroyed by Franz Joseph order, so they are big rarities. Possibly exist also silver 20 kreuzer and 2 forint coins, which were reported.

  
Very rare coins - Križar and Forint issued by ban Josip Jelačić in 1848.-1849.

   In 1857. new, decimal monetary system has been introduced. Instead of old 60 Kreuzer = 1 Florin =1/2 Thaler, under new system 100 Kreuzer valued 1 Florin, or 2/3 Thaler.

  
Florin (left) was used in Dalmatia and Istria, while Forint (right) was used in Croatia and Slavonia

   In 1867., motivated by revolutions, Austria and Hungary finally agreed to split Croatia (nowdays territory), to have under control every attempt of Croatian people to gain independence. Slavonia and Croatia left under Hungarian crown, but Dalmatia was overtaken by Austria. Istria left under Austrian control. Such state divison was retained until 1918., to the end of World War I, when Austro-Hungarian monarchy finally falled. In 1892. Austro-Hungarian monarchy governments have decided to perform monetary reform. New currency was Corona (Austria) divided to 100 Heller and Korona (Hungary) divided into 100 Filler.

  
State division was the same as before monetary reform, so both currencies were used on Croatian territory

   After its fall, few countries, today states of ex-yugoslavia, along with Croatia formed Republic of Slovenes, Croats and Serbia, which was very soon, after connecting of Serbia and Montenegro renamed to Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes(SHS). Istria ceded to Italy, so their Lira circulated there. Kingdom SHS issued first coins in 1920. in three denominations - zinc 5 and 10 para and Copper-Nickel 25 para. Other, obsolete money was also normally circulated in the Kingdom, and it was gradually changed into new Dinar. Austrian Corona and Hungarian Korona were changed to new money, Dinar in ratio 4:1 and Serbian Dinar was changed 1:1, same as Montenegro Perper. In 1925. other four denominations were issued, bearing the effigy of king Alexander I.

   Kingdom SHS has changed its official name to Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. There have been two issues of circulation money. In 1931. and 1932. Paris and London minted silver coins in denominations 10, 20 and 50 dinara. After king Alexander assasination in Marseillese 1938., his juvenile son Petar II became king and new serie of coins in seven denominations was issued.

   In 1939., when Croatian Banovina was established as an autonomy under Kingdom of Yugoslavia, there were some plans to issue its own coins, which would be circulating with Dinar. But beginning of World War II disabled minting even patterns, so just two plaster models are known. 

Two plaster models for Croatian Banovina, made by Ivo Kerdić

    After German forces defeated army of Yugoslavian Kingdom, nazi regime was introduced in Croatia, too. Under such heavy conditions, Croatian politicians in exile, with Ante Pavelić as a leader, made a deal with German and Italian fuhrer and duce by which Croatia became independent, pro-nazi republic on 10th April 1941. New formation was named Indepentent Republic of Croatia, or Nezavisna Država Hrvatska, with poglavnik Ante Pavelić as the dominion. Of course, new currency was introduced. As decided already several years ago, it was KUNA divided in 100 BANICA. Name kuna, or english marten, is dating from the earliest history of Croatian people, back in VII century when marten furs was used as natural money. First patterns were made in exile(Hungary) for 5 kuna coin even back in 1934., in four differnt metals. Similar 50 kuna coins are considered modern fantasies.

The rarest 5 kuna 1934. pattern was made in zinc

   In 1941. official patterns were made in various metals for denominations 25 banica to 500 kuna. Circulation coins were not made because of notable inflation, so authorities had to issue 2 kuna zinc coin. Only coin that was in circulation beside this was 500 kuna made from gold, but as it has been minted in about 170 pieces only, it can be easily said NDH had only one circulation coin. Because of lack of metal money, very often was also used 4 kune telephone token, specially in Zagreb, so it is also considered as numismatic item. 1 kuna dated 1941., similar to circulation 2 kune is not actually circulation coin, although it has been planned to be. Zinc planchets from Germany have never been delivered to Zagreb, but examples have been struck (maybe just one!), and today ONLY ONE specimen is known, in a private collection in Zagreb.

  
The only two circulation coins in WWII Croatia

   During Second World War in Croatia was also circulating German Reichsmark, and in Dalmatia, Kvarner and Istria, which were under Italian rule until their capitulation in 1943., has been used Italian Lira only.

Proceed to COINS USED IN CROATIA AFTER WWII