On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the admission of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations, the Croatian National Bank put into circulation a new commemorative circulation coin of 25 kuna on May 22, 2017. The author of the conceptual and artistic design of this coin is the academic sculptor Damir Mataušić, and it was minted at the Croatian Monetary Institute (today the Croatian Mint). The coin was issued in a quantity of 20,000 pieces.
The main motif on the obverse and reverse of the new 25-kuna coin is designed on the model of a puzzle. On the obverse, the motifs shown on the puzzle symbolize the cooperation and unity of the United States member states. The part of the puzzle filled with thin diagonal lines represents the alphabetical letter “H”, which symbolizes Croatia. The letter “H” touches the official logo of the United Nations in the core, symbolizing the membership of the Republic of Croatia in the United Nations. On the reverse, the puzzle motif represents the fields of the state coat of arms.
This “twenty-five” was not so noticeable in numismatic and collector circles until the “Pelješac Bridge” phenomenon sparked the Croatian public's interest in numismatics. Following the “explosion” of a large number of new collectors, numismatists, and “investors,” and the genuine craze for the “Pelješac Bridge,” this coin experienced great popularity. It became highly sought after, especially due to its small mintage (only 20,000 pieces), and stood right alongside the “Pelješac Bridge.”.
This short video shows the creation of this interesting coin, which earned the colloquial nickname “Puzzle” due to its design.
Source: Croatian National Bank YouTube channel
