Commemorative coins are circulation euro coins with a face value of 2 euro intended to commemorate specific events. The CNB may release a maximum of two commemorative euro coin issues in one calendar year.

Collector euro coins are intended for collecting and are not issued to be put into circulation. However, these coins may be used as legal tender, but only in the issuing country – the Republic of Croatia. The CNB may only issue collector coins that meet specific criteria and are distinguishable from circulation euro coins. The face value of collector euro coins is different from that of circulation euro coins as collector coins are minted, as a rule, from precious metals and must meet specific criteria as regards their colour, diameter, weight and edge.

Below are the CNB’s technical specifications of collector euro coins:

In addition, in order for collector euro coins to be distinguishable from circulation euro coins, the images of collector euro coins must not be similar to those of the common sides of the circulation euro coins of euro area Member States. If the image of a collector euro coin is similar to the national side of a circulation euro coin, the overall design of such a collector coin must differ from the design of the circulation coin concerned.

An initiative for the issue of commemorative or collector euro coins can be put forward, apart from by the CNB, by the Croatian Mint, local and regional self-government units and government and public institutions as well as by other interested parties.

The initiative is submitted to the CNB’s Currency Committee (hereinafter: Committee), by the end of September at the latest for the issues to be released in the following calendar year, to the address below:

Hrvatska narodna banka
Komisija za novac (Currency Committee)
Trg hrvatskih velikana 3
10000 Zagreb

or by electronic mail to komisija.za.novac@hnb.hr.

The initiative should contain, at a minimum, the following information:

• the cause for issuing and the name of the issue;
• a proposal for the motifs.

If the initiative concerns collector euro coins it should also state the following:

• the face value;
• the type and degree of fineness of the metal;
• whether the submitter of the initiative wishes to finance the proposed issue.

The Commission will notify the submitter in writing whether it accepts the initiative or not.

Commemorative euro coin issues are always financed by the CNB.

Collector euro coin issues may be financed either by the CNB or by other submitters of the initiative (Croatian Mint, local and regional self government units and government or public institutions as well as other interested parties), which then conclude a financing agreement with the CNB specifying all issues related to the issue concerned. Collector euro coin issues may not be financed by a natural person.

The submitter of the initiative that is to finance the issue of a collector euro coin, which has been accepted by the CNB, may propose to the Committee the design of the accepted collector coin issue.

The design is a visual proposal for a euro coin issue, which consists of the concept design and the model. The concept design is a graphic representation with visual and textual details showing the main motif and image of a euro coin in a physical, two-dimensional (2D) form or digital 2D form. The model is a model in plaster, plastic or another adequate material, produced based on the concept design, which shows the main motif and image of a euro coin in a physical, three-dimensional (3D) form or digital 3D form.

The CNB, based on the decision on issuance, decides on the authorised seller of a collector euro coin, which may be the submitter of the initiative.

The CNB concludes a contract on the sale of the collector coin with the authorised seller, defined on the basis of the decision on issuance.