Croatia first banknotes after independence 1991 3 pc set P16 P17 P18 1 5 10 dinara
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$2.89
The first banknotes ever issued by Croatia after gaining independence from Yugoslavia!
Set of 3 uncirculated banknotes featuring mathematician Ruđer Bošković and the Zagreb Cathedral part of Croatia's initial currency series in Dinara before introducing the Kuna and after joining the European Union in 2013, switching to the euro in 2023
They were issued on October 8, 1991 when Croatia formally severed all legal ties with Yugoslavia, CroatianIndependence Day.
Fun fact - the Slavic calendar uses very different month names than English, Spanish, etc., which come from Latin words for gods and numbers. Listopad, the Croatian word for October, engraved on the note, means "leaves falling". And although in Yugoslavia, Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian were considered one language, Serbo-Croatian, Serbia uses the Latin-derived month names, while Croatia uses the Slavic names. Yep, even the month names are a way that ethnic identity shows up!
The Set consists of one each:
- P-16 1 dinar 1991 uncirculated
- P-17 5 dinara 1991 uncirculated
- P-18 10 dinara 1991 uncirculated
Currency: Croatian dinar (Hrvatski dinar) formally established on December 23rd, 1991 (after the date on the notes!) replaced by the kuna on May 30th, 1994.
Dated: October 8, 1991
Issued (released): December 23rd, 1991
Design: Zlatko Jakus (b. 1945) a Croatian emigrant to Sweden who designed dozens of postage stamps for Sweden in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.
Front (all 3 notes): Ruđer Bošković
Back (all 3 notes): Zagreb Cathedral
Size: 105 x 55 mm (~4.1" x ~2.2")
About Ruđer Bošković
Ruđer Bošković (1711–1787) was a towering Enlightenment polymath from Dubrovnik (then the Republic of Ragusa; Ragusa being the Italian name for Dubrovnik). He was a Jesuit priest, physicist, astronomer, mathematician, engineer, diplomat, and a philosopher of nature—one of those rare minds who stitched the sciences together before they fragmented. Why he matters:
- Proto-atomic theory: In Theoria Philosophiae Naturalis (1758), Bošković proposed that matter consists of point-like centers of force—no hard atoms—anticipating ideas later echoed in field theory and modern physics.
- Astronomy & geodesy: Helped refine methods for measuring Earth’s shape and size; worked on observational astronomy across Europe.
- Engineering: Diagnosed structural problems of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome; applied mathematics to real-world crises with unnerving calm.
- Diplomacy & intellect: Moved fluidly between Rome, Paris, Milan, and London, advising courts and academies while publishing in Latin, Italian, and French.
His identity was Croatian/Ragusan by origin, European by career. Born in Dubrovnik to a merchant family, educated by Jesuits, and employed across the continent. Modern Croatia rightly claims him; so do the broader histories of science. His egacy includes The Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb and he is remembered as a bridge figure: Newtonian rigor blended with speculative elegance—an Enlightenment mind thinking in systems, not silos.
About Zagreb Cathedral
Zagreb Cathedral, formally the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, dominates the old ecclesiastical quarter of Kaptol with its twin neo-Gothic spires. Founded in the 11th century, repeatedly damaged by earthquakes, fires, and invasions, it took on its current 19th-century form under Austro-Hungarian restoration, turning resilience into architecture. More than a church, it’s a visual shorthand for Zagreb itself—history layered, scarred, repaired, and quietly insistent on continuity.
Fun fact: after the 1880 earthquake, Zagreb Cathedral’s reconstruction deliberately made the twin spires unequal in height—a subtle engineering choice to help the structure respond differently to seismic stress, rather than fail in unison. In a city that lives with earthquakes, even its skyline learned asymmetry.
A truly weird story: In 1898, during late-night restoration work, masons opening a sealed section beneath the cathedral floor uncovered a bricked-in corridor that led nowhere—ending abruptly in a solid wall, as if the builders had changed their minds mid-escape. No relics, no tomb, no explanation. The passage was quietly re-sealed. Kaptol folklore insists it was meant as a flight route for bishops during Ottoman raids that was never completed, then deliberately erased from memory. The cathedral has kept that secret better than most.
The ghost story: Night watchmen have long spoken of a woman in black appearing near the choir after midnight—head bowed, moving without sound, vanishing before the altar. She’s said to be a noble benefactress whose burial place was disturbed during 19th-century rebuilding. The tell isn’t her appearance; it’s the temperature drop and the sudden smell of cold stone and old wax. Clergy never encouraged the story—but they also never assigned guards alone to that end of the nave. Call it medieval guilt, seismic memory, or just a cathedral that’s been broken and rebuilt too many times—but Zagreb Cathedral has a reputation after dark that the daytime postcards very politely ignore.
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World Money Store is me, Βrian Grοss, the sole proprietor of this small business, based in Washington D.C. I've spend half my adult life in The Netherlands and Mexico and have an addiction to travel, history and languages (Spanish, Dutch Russian and a few others); Arabic my current challenge. My personal instagram is @df2dc.
I've been on ebay for 22 years, and I am also on Whatnot. I put together the website myself, and do all the purchasing.
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I have three main groups of customers:
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- Serial numbers will vary
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Banknote Condition Guide (UNC, XF, VF, F etc.)
- UNC (Uncirculated): No folds/creases; full crispness/sheen. May have "half moon" at edge of security thread.
- AU (About Uncirculated): Nearly perfect, with a single light fold or handling mark that doesn't break the paper. Crisp and colorful.
- XF a.k.a. EF (Extremely Fine): Crisp, firm, bright; a few light folds or one firm crease.
- VF Plus: Minor folds/stains; white areas are bright, still not quite Extra Fine.
- VF (Very Fine): Several folds; paper firmer than average; corners lightly worn.
- VF Minus: VF but may show foxing (yellow/brown patches), thinner paper, more folds/wrinkles/small tears (1-3 mm), otherwise intact.
- F (Fine): Well-used, many folds or creases; paper is soft; some soiling and/or pen marks.
- VG (Very Good) / Limp/worn/faded with heavy creasing/edge wear/tears.
Coin grading guide
- BU (Brilliant Uncirculated): Mint luster, never used
- UNC (Uncirculated): No wear, may have minor bag marks
- VF: clear, readable, noticeably worn, duller surfaces, dirt/toning common
- XF: sharp detail, light high-point wear, traces of luster, mostly clean fields
- AU: near-mint detail, luster largely present, only tiny rub, minimal grime
- F (Fine): Significant wear, major details visible
- G (Good): Heavy wear, outlines and shape remain
A note on “dirt” and dark spots
Circulated coins often show some toning (natural color change of the metal) and sometimes adhered dirt/deposits (a bonded film or small patch that cannot be removed without conservation or cleaning). A coin can still be correctly graded VF/XF/AU even if it has a small, stubborn smudge—that typically affects eye appeal, not the underlying wear grade, unless it is corrosion or damage.
Very Fine (VF) coin
What VF means: The coin has seen real circulation. Major features are clear, but high points are noticeably worn down.
Wear & detail (what you’ll see)
- Moderate wear across the whole design
- High points are flattened/rounded (not sharp)
- Most major elements are fully visible (portrait, emblem, date, legends)
- Inner detail is partially worn: hair strands, feather lines, leaf veins may be merged or softened
- Rim is complete; lettering should be readable and strong
Marks, scratches, and rims
- Many small contact marks from circulation
- Light scratches/hairlines are common
- Small rim nicks or bumps may appear
- No single deep gouge should dominate the coin (unless disclosed as a problem)
Brilliance / luster
- No mint luster
- Surface looks matte or uniformly dull
- Any “shine” is usually from wear smoothing, not original luster
Color, toning, and dirt
- Toning is often medium gray/brown (varies by metal)
- Darker color may collect in recesses
- Adhered grime in protected areas is common
- You may see a small dark smudge/spot (a few mm) that cannot be removed without conservation
In plain terms: VF is solid, honest circulation with full readability and strong main design, but clearly worn.
Extremely Fine (XF) coin
What XF means: Only light circulation. The design is sharp, with wear mainly limited to the highest points.
Wear & detail (what you’ll see)
- Light wear on the highest points only
- Most inner detail remains crisp: separation in hair, feathers, shield lines, leaf structure
- Legends, date, and rims are sharp and well-defined
- High-point flatness is present but limited and localized
Marks, scratches, and rims
- Fewer marks than VF
- Small contact ticks may be present
- Light hairlines possible
- Rim usually clean with only minor nicks
Brilliance / luster
- Some original luster may remain, especially in protected areas (around lettering, inside wreaths, fields near devices)
- Coin may show a slight “flash” when tilted, but not full cartwheel luster
Color, toning, and dirt
- Toning tends to be lighter and thinner than VF
- Dirt is usually limited to crevices
- A stubborn smudge can exist, but it will stand out more against the otherwise clean surfaces
In plain terms: XF still looks “sharp” at a glance—most detail is there—with only light wear on the tops.
About Uncirculated (AU) coin
The coin looks close to uncirculated but has the slightest wear (often called “rub” or “friction”) on the highest points.
Wear & detail (what you’ll see)
- Nearly full detail
- Only the very highest points show faint friction (cheekbone, hair curls, eagle breast, crown tips, etc.)
- No broad flattening; design remains crisp
Marks, scratches, and rims
- Contact marks may exist (coins can get marks without heavy wear)
- “Bag marks” (small dings from storage/handling) may appear
- Major scratches or damage are not expected unless disclosed
Brilliance / luster
- Most mint luster is present
- Often shows a clear “cartwheel” effect when rotated in light
- The only dull areas should be on the tiny rub points
Color, toning, and dirt
- Toning may be present, sometimes attractive
- Dirt/deposits should be minimal
- A small dark patch (few mm) can still occur from old residue or contamination; it may be non-removable without conservation
- If the patch is corrosion/etching (metal damage), that is a problem, and should be disclosed separately
In plain terms: AU is a “near-mint” circulated coin—luster mostly intact, with only a whisper of wear.
Final thoughts
Grade primarily describes wear. Surface issues can exist at any grade:
- A coin can be VF/XF/AU and still have a small, stubborn smudge
- A coin with corrosion, pitting, holes, deep gouges, harsh cleaning, or heavy rim damage is considered a problem coin the we will describe specifically in the listing.