Slovak koruna

Slovak koruna
slovenská koruna (Slovak)
20, 200, 500 korún 1 koruna
20, 200, 500 korún 1 koruna
ISO 4217 Code SKK
User(s) Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia
Inflation 2.0%
Source National Bank of Slovakia, March 2007
ERM
Since 28 November 2005
Replaced by €, cash 1 January 2009
= 30.1260 Sk1
Band 15%
Subunit
1/100 halier
Symbol Sk
halier h
Plural The language(s) of this currency belong(s) to the Slavic languages. There is more than one way to construct plural forms. See article.
Coins 50 h, 1 Sk, 2 Sk, 5 Sk, 10 Sk
Banknotes 20 Sk, 50 Sk, 100 Sk, 200 Sk, 500 Sk, 1000 Sk, 5000 Sk
Central bank National Bank of Slovakia
Website www.nbs.sk
  1. The rate has changed twice. See article for details.
An example of dual pricing in Slovakia since August 2008

The Slovak koruna (Slovak: slovenská koruna) was the currency of Slovakia between February 8, 1993 and December 31, 2008. The ISO 4217 code was SKK and the local abbreviation was Sk. The koruna was also the currency of the WWII Slovak Republic between 1939 and 1945. Both koruna were subdivided into 100 halierov (abbreviated as "hal." or simply "h", singular: halier). The abbreviation is placed behind the numeric value. Slovakia will switch their currency from the koruna to the euro on January 1, 2009, at a rate of 30.1260 korún to the euro.

In the Slovak language, "koruna" and "halier" are used in their genitive forms, i.e., "koruny" or "korún" and "halierov", after numerals, unless the preposition or other circumstances require another case. "Koruny"[1] appears after the numbers ending in 2, 3 or 4, with "korún" being used after other numbers.

Contents

WWII koruna

The koruna (Slovak: slovenská koruna, note the different word ordering from the modern koruna) was the currency of the Slovak Republic from 1939 to 1945. The Slovak koruna replaced the Czechoslovak koruna at par and was replaced by the reconstituted Czechoslovak koruna, again at par. Its abbreviation was Ks.

Initially, the Slovak koruna was at par with the Bohemian and Moravian koruna, with 10 korún = 1 Reichsmark. This was changed, on October 1, 1940, to a rate of 11.62 Slovak korún = 1 Reichsmark, with the value of the Bohemian and Moravian currency unchanged against the Reichsmark.

Coins

Main article: Coins of the Slovak koruna (WWII)

In 1939, coins were introduced in denominations of 10 halierov, 5 and 20 korún, with 20 and 50 halierov and 1 koruna added in 1940. The 10 and 20 halierov were bronze, the 50 halierov and 1 koruna cupro-nickel, the 5 korún nickel and the 20 korún were silver. In 1942, zinc 5 halierov were introduced and aluminium replaced bronze in the 20 halierov. Aluminium 50 halierov followed in 1943. Silver 10 and 50 korún were introduced in 1944.

Compared to the pre-war Czechoslovak koruna, the Slovak koruna coins had an additional 50 Ks, the silver content of the 10 and 20 Ks coins was reduced from 700 ‰ to 500 ‰ and all but 5 Ks shrank in physical sizes. The designers were Anton Hám, Andrej Peter, Gejza Angyal, Ladislav Majerský and František Štefunko. Coins were minted in the Kremnica Mint.

Banknotes

In 1939, Czechoslovak notes for 100, 500 and 1000 korún were issued with SLOVENSKÝ ŠTÁT overprinted on them for use in Slovakia. That year also saw the introduction of 10 and 20 korún notes by the government. I

Modern koruna

In 1993, the newly independent Slovakia introduced its own koruna, replacing the Czechoslovak koruna at par.

Coins

1 Slovak koruna 1996
Coin 1sk small.jpg
Coat of arms Madonna with child

In 1993, coins were introduced in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 halierov, 1, 2, 5 and 10 korún. The 10 and 20 halierov coins were taken out of circulation on 31 December 2003.

The obverse of the coins feature the Coat of Arms of Slovakia, with motifs from Slovak history are on the reverses.

Banknotes

In 1993, banknotes were issued in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 korún. These were produced by affixing stamps bearing the arms of Slovakia and the denomination to Czechoslovak banknotes.

Later in 1993, regular type banknotes were introduced in the same denominations, with 5000 korún notes added in 1994. The main motifs on the obverses of the banknotes represent important people living in the territory of the present Slovakia in various historical eras. On the reverses, these motifs are completed by depicting places where these people lived and were active.

Historical exchange rates

The graph shows the value of the euro in koruna from 1999 to 2005. As may be seen, the currency has been strengthening as Slovakia's economy has done the same. The koruna joined the ERM II on 28 November 2005 at the rate of € = 38.4550 Sk with a 15% band.[2] [3] On 17 March 2007, this rate was readjusted to 35.4424 Sk with the same band, an 8.5% increase in the value of the koruna.[4] On the same day, 1 euro traded at 33.959 Sk. The central rate of koruna was then adjusted once more on 28 May 2008 to 30.1260 with no change in the band.[5] For the moment, the Slovak government has been content to let the koruna gain value.

History Exchange Rate SKK EUR 1999 to 2005.png

Current SKK exchange rates
From Yahoo! Finance: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From XE.com: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From OANDA.com: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD

See also

References

  1. CIA - The World Factbook -- Slovakia. 15 May 2007; accessed 19 May 2007.
  2. "Slovak Koruna Included in the ERM II", National Bank of Slovakia (2005-11-28). Retrieved on 2007-03-17. 
  3. European Commission. "Exchange Rate Mechanism II (ERM II)". Retrieved on 2007-03-17.
  4. Radoslav Tomek and Meera Louis (2007-03-17). "Slovakia, EU Raise Koruna's Central Rate After Appreciation", Bloomberg. Retrieved on 2007-03-17. 
  5. Radoslav Tomek and Meera Louis (2008-05-28). "Slovakia Wins EU Approval to Let Koruna Strengthen", Bloomberg. Retrieved on 2008-05-29. 
  • Krause, Chester L. and Clifford Mishler (1991). Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1801-1991 (18th ed. ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0873411501. 
  • Pick, Albert (1994). Standard Catalog of World Paper Money: General Issues. Colin R. Bruce II and Neil Shafer (editors) (7th ed. ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-207-9. 
  • Biľak, M. - Jízdný, M. (1988). Zberatelský katalóg mincí Československa. Československá Numizmatická Spoločnosť, Pobočka Košice. 
Preceded by:
Czechoslovak koruna
Reason: indepedence
Ratio: at par
Currency of Slovakia
1939 – 1945
Succeeded by:
Czechoslovak koruna
Reason: restoration of Czechoslovakia
Ratio: ?
Preceded by:
Czechoslovak koruna
Reason: indepedence
Ratio: at par
Currency of Slovakia
1993 – 2008
Succeeded by:
Euro
Reason: entry into Eurozone
Ratio: 1 EUR = 30.1260 SKK

External links