Catalog
50 Banica
| Issuer | Nezavisna Drzava Hrvatska |
|---|---|
| Year | 1942 |
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| Reference(s) | P#6 |
| Obverse description | The face is dominated by a large guilloche-patterned numeral '50' in the upper portion, set against an intricate geometric underprint of fine latticework in reddish-brown ink. The word 'BANICA' appears in bold serif lettering below the numeral, with the issuer name 'NEZAVISNA DRŽAVA HRVATSKA' inscribed beneath in two lines. A serial number prefixed with the letter 'Z' is printed at the foot of the note, with the printer's imprint 'HRVATSKA DRŽAVNA TISKARA, ZAGREB' in small type along the bottom margin. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse carries the Croatian state coat of arms — a quartered checkerboard shield with a crown of historical shields above — centered at the top of the note, flanked on either side by the denomination numeral '50'. Below, the issuer name and full denomination are printed in large bold lettering across the guilloche underprint field. The date of issue 'ZAGREB 25 RUJNA 1942' (Zagreb, 25 September 1942) and the title 'DRŽAVNI RIZNIČAR' (State Treasurer) appear in the lower section, accompanied by a facsimile signature. |
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| Comments |
The Nezavisna Država Hrvatska — the Ustaše puppet state installed by the Axis powers in April 1941 — introduced the kuna as its currency that same year, replacing the Yugoslav dinar. This 50 banica fractional note was part of the auxiliary coinage-replacement series issued as metal shortages made small coin production impractical. Ljubo Babić, a legitimately distinguished Croatian painter and stage designer, handled both the design and engraving — an unusual concentration of artistic responsibility in one hand for a wartime emergency issue.
The HDT in Zagreb produced the entire run domestically, which was itself a point of ideological significance for a regime obsessed with demonstrating administrative self-sufficiency.