500 Tolarjev

Slovenia's declaration of independence in June 1991 created an immediate practical problem: the new state needed a currency within days, not months. The tolar series, including this 500-tolar note, was printed domestically by Cetis in Celje — a security printing firm with deep roots in the region — allowing Slovenia to move fast without depending on foreign contractors. The notes entered circulation in October 1991, replacing Yugoslav dinars at par during a ten-day exchange window.

Cetis had been producing lottery tickets and fiscal stamps for decades; banknote production at this scale was a significant step up, and early tolar notes are sometimes found with minor registration inconsistencies as a result.