Macedonian denar

"Denar" redirects here. For the similarly spelled currency of other countries, see Dinar.
Macedonian denar
Македонски денар (Macedonian)
Makedonski denar
ISO 4217 code MKD, the three-digit identifier is 807
Central bank National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia
Website www.nbrm.mk
User(s) Republic of Macedonia Republic of Macedonia
Inflation 3.9%
Source NBRM Inflation data, 2011
Subunit
1/100 deni (no longer used)
Symbol ден
Plural denari
Coins 1, 2, 5, 10, 50 denari
Banknotes 10, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 denari

The denar (plural: denari, Macedonian: денар and денари, denar and denari, ISO 4217 code: MKD) is the currency of the Republic of Macedonia. It is subdivided into 100 deni (Macedonian: дени).

History

The first Macedonian denar was established on 26 April 1992.[1] It replaced the 1990 version of the Yugoslav dinar at par. In May 1993, the currency was reformed. A new denar was introduced, with one new denar (MKD) being equal to 100 old denari (MKN).

Etymology

The name denar comes from the name of the ancient Roman monetary unit, the denarius. The currency symbol is ден, the first three letters of its name.

First denar (1992-1993)

The first denar was a temporary currency introduced in April 1992 to establish the monetary independence of the Republic of Macedonia. It replaced the Yugoslav dinar at par.

History

The Republic of Macedonia declared independence from Yugoslavia on 8 September 1991. At the time the country was using the Yugoslav dinar. Secret preparations were started to introduce an own currency. In April 1992 the country was ready to acquire monetary independence from Yugoslavia. On 26 April the national bank was established and the denar declared the currency of the country. Notes ("value coupons") entered circulation the next day and on 30 April the Yugoslav dinar ceased to be legal tender.[2] The first denar was replaced at a rate of 100 to 1 by a new, permanent, denar consisting of notes and coins in May 1993.

Coins

No coins were issued for the first denar.

Banknotes

Temporary notes ("value coupons") were introduced on 27 April 1992, although preparations for producing them began much earlier. They remained in circulation until replaced by permanent notes of the second denar during 1993.

Production

The notes were printed by the printing firm “11 October” in Prilep. Printing started on 15 January 1992. The difficulties of creating a new currency in secret is reflected in the notes themselves. The paper, which was purchased from Slovenia, proved to be of poor quality and lacking in adequate security. Although denominated in denari, the name of the currency does not appear on the notes because they were printed prior to the adoption of the Law on the Monetary Unit. Likewise, the issuer appears (in Macedonian) as the National Bank of Macedonia, not its successor, the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia.[3]

Design

The notes were designed by a young employee of the "11 October" printer. He had only one week to design them and not a very large budget. That is why the six lowest denominations are identical with the exception of their colors. They all feature a man and two women picking tobacco leaves on the front, with the back devoted to the Ilinden monument in Kruševo, which, according to the bank, “expresses the eternal fight of Macedonian citizens for life in peace and freedom.”

Banknotes of the first denar
Image Value Dimensions Watermark Description Date of
Obverse Reverse Obverse Reverse printing issue withdrawal lapse
10 denari ? mm × ? mm Design Women gathering tobacco Monument Makedonium in Kruševo 1992 27 April 1992 10 May 1993[4] ?
25 denari ? mm × ? mm
50 denari* ? mm × ? mm 31 August 1993[4]
100 denari ? mm × ? mm
500 denari ? mm × ? mm
1000 denari ? mm × ? mm 30 November 1993[4]
5000 denari ? mm × ? mm Monument Makedonium in Kruševo Girl in front of a computer
10,000 denari ? mm × ? mm Panorama of the church St. Sofia, Ohrid Men dancing and the monument Makedonium in Kruševo
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixels per millimetre.
  • After 10 May 1993 these banknotes remained in circulation at 1/100 of their nominal value.[4]

Exchange rates

The denar was introduced with a fixed exchange rate against the German Mark of 360 denars to the mark.[2]

Second denar (1993-present)

Coins

In May 1993, coins for the second denar were introduced in denominations of 50 deni, 1, 2, and 5 denari. 10 and 50 denari coins were introduced in November 2008. The 50 deni coin was withdrawn in 2013; due to its low mintage (it was only struck in 1993) it was practically never seen in circulation.[5]

Since 1996 a large number of commemorative coins for collectors has been issued. A listing can be found here: .

Coins are minted at the Suvenir factory in Samokov, a village near Makedonski Brod.

Coins of the denar (1993–present)[6]
Image Value Technical parameters Description Date of
Diameter Mass Composition Edge Obverse Reverse minting issue withdrawal lapse
50 deni 21.5 mm 4.1g CuZn15 Plain Value,
Stylized horizont with a 16-ray sun
РЕПУБЛИКА МАКЕДОНИЈА, circular; year in the lower central field. Flying seagull 1993 10 May 1993 1 January 2013[7] Indefinitely*
1 denar 23.80 mm 5.1 g CuNi3Zn17 РЕПУБЛИКА МАКЕДОНИЈА, circular; year in the lower central field. Šarplaninec shepherd dog 1993
1997
2001
2006
Current
2 denari 25.50 mm 6.2 g РЕПУБЛИКА МАКЕДОНИЈА, circular; year in the lower central field. Ohrid trout (Salmo letnica). 1993
1997
2001
2006
5 denari 27.5 mm 7.2 g РЕПУБЛИКА МАКЕДОНИЈА, circular; year in the lower central field. Lynx (Felis Lyinx). 1993
1997
2001
2006
2008
10 denari 24.5 mm 6.6 g Cu70Ni12Zn18 Plain Value,
Stylized horizont with a 16-ray sun
Peacock, floor mosaic from Stobi from the 6th century, detail presented on the banknote of 10 Denars 2008 15 November 2008 Current
50 denari 26.5 mm 7.7 g Cu62Ni18Zn20 Archangel Gabriel, fresco from the church of St. Ghiorghi in Kurbinovo - 12th century, detail presented on the banknote of 50 Denars 2008
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.
  • Until 1 April 2013, 50 deni coins could be exchanged at any Macedonian bank. From the 1 April onwards only the National Bank will exchange them. No deadline has been set for this.

FAO coinage (1995)

In 1995 circulation coins (valued 1, 2, and 5 denari) were struck in honor of the United Nations F.A.O programme.

5 Denar FAO (1995)

Banknotes

In 1993, the new denar was issued in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500. The 20 denari was only issued in this first series of notes. In 1996, 1000 and 5000 denari notes were added. In 2014, 200 and 2000 denari notes were issued.

1993 series (Issued October 1993)
10 denars blue The monument Makedonium in Kruševo Panorama of Kruševo
20 denars brown-dark red Daut-Pasha Bath in Skopje Clock tower in Skopje
50 denars red The Monastery of St. Pantelejmon in Skopje The old National Bank of Macedonia building in Skopje
100 denars brown The church of St. Sofia in Ohrid National Museum building in Ohrid
500 denars brown-dark green Monastery of St. Jovan Caneo in Ohrid Samuil's Fortress in Ohrid
1996 series
Obverse Reverse Value Colour Obverse Reverse
10 denars lilac The Egyptian goddess Isis (Izida, 2nd century BC), Ohrid; gold earring (4th century BC), v. Beranci, Bitola. Mosaic in Stobi (4th-5th century).
50 denars blue Fresco in the church St. Pantelejmon, Nerezi; Follis coin. Arhangel Gavril in the church St. Ǵorǵi, Kurbinovo.
100 denars lilac-brown Skopje from engraving by Jacobus Harevin View of Skopje from an Albanian house
100px 500 denars red-brown Gold mask, v. Trebeništa, Ohrid (6th century BC) Flower of poppy
1000 denars brown Madonna Episkepis, icon from the church of St. Vrači, Ohrid, 14th century Gregory's gallery (14th century), church of St. Sofia, Ohrid
5000 denars red-brown-green Bronze figure of Maenad (6th century BC), Tetovo. Dog and tree, mosaic, Heraclea Lyncestis (5th-6th century AD), Bitola.
Upgrade of the 1996 series
Obverse Reverse Value Colour Obverse Reverse
500 denars red-brown Gold mask, v. Trebeništa, Ohrid (6th century BC) Flower of poppy.
1000 denars brown Madonna Episkepis, icon from the church St. Vrači, Ohrid, 14th century Gregory's gallery (14th century), church St. Sofia, Ohrid
2014 series (Issued August 2014)
200 denars Early medieval bronze fibula (found near Prilep); Relief of the Old Testament Psalm 41 (terracotta icon from Vinica) Artistic elements on the façade of Colorful Mosque (Šarena Džamija, Alaca Cami), Tetovo; Marble tiles with floral designs of Isaak Beg Mosque (Isak Džamija), Bitola
2000 denars Bronze artifact in the form of cup poppy (discovered in Suva Reka, Gevgelija); Macedonian bridal dress from Prilep Decoration on the inside of a gilded bowl (16th century), "Source of Life", peacocks

Exchange rates

Current MKD exchange rates
From Google Finance: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From Yahoo! Finance: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From XE: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From OANDA: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From fxtop.com: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD
From Currency.Wiki: AUD CAD CHF EUR GBP HKD JPY USD

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Money of the Republic of Macedonia.

References

  1. 20 years of the Macedonian denar will be celebrated NovaMakedonija
  2. 2.0 2.1 National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia. Annual Report 1992. Available at: http://www.nbrm.mk/WBStorage/Files/annual_report_1992.pdf
  3. Со солзи и во тајност се печатеше првиот македонски денар. 6 September 2011. Available at: http://www.utrinski.mk/?ItemID=D36A7ABAF30BB84696DC7B93F291BBC9
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia. Annual Report 1993. Available at: http://www.nbrm.mk/WBStorage/Files/annual_report_1993.pdf
  5. National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia, Annual Report 2011. Available at: http://www.nbrm.mk/WBStorage/Files/WebBuilder_Annual_Report_2011.pdf
  6. National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia. Available at: http://www.nbrm.mk/?ItemID=6F1ABD61B6A40E4B9926CFA61BC8998B
  7. National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia, DECISION ON WITHDRAWAL FROM CIRCULATION OF COINS IN DENOMINATION OF 50 DENI (26 April 2012).
    Available at: http://www.nbrm.mk/WBStorage/Files/WebBuilder_DecisionWithdrawal50Deni.pdf

External links