Banovac


Banovac, banski denar or banica is a coin struck and used in the Kingdom of Croatia between 1235 and 1384, replacing the Croatian frizatik. The Latin name denarius banalis was derived from the words ban and denarius.
The coins were first minted in Pakrac, and from 1260 in Zagreb. They were well made, of quality silver, because of which became common exchange currency in Central Europe. There exist some 400 types and sub-types of banovac.
Banovac included on obverse the image of a marten between two six-pointed stars, because marten pelts were highly valued goods used as a form of payment in Slavonia. This was one of the reasons for naming the former currency of the Republic of Croatia the kuna. On the reverse included image of Patriarchal cross#Hungary, in upper part crescent and star, and lower part two crowned heads facing each other.
The legends are:
  • MONETA REGIS P SCLAVONIA
  • MONETA B REGIS P SCLAVONIA
  • MONETA DVCIS P SCLAVONIA
  • MONETA REGIS P VNGARIA
Initials on the Árpád Dynasty coins are:
  • King Bela IV :
  • * o - o,
  • * lily - lily,
  • * bird - bird,
  • * h - R
  • King Stephen V
  • * S - R,
  • * R - S
  • King Ladislaus IV
  • * R - L,
  • * L - R,
  • * S - L,
  • * R - R - L
  • King Andrew III
  • * R - A,
  • * A - R,
  • * S - A,
  • * R - bird,
  • * A - bird