New Coins

Slovenia decided to have a different motif on the national side of euro coins of each denomination. A two-tier tender for the design of Slovenian euro coins was conducted: first an open call was announced, and 132 entrants submitted 192 bids. Afterwards a jury organised a closed call for tenders and chose the design project put in by Miljenko Licul, Maja Licul and Janez Boljka.

The following motifs will be depicted on Slovenian euro coins:

• 2-euro coin: France Prešeren
• 1-euro coin: Primož Trubar
• 50-cent coin: Mt Triglav
• 20-cent coin: a pair of Lippizaner horses
• 10-cent coin: Plečnik's design for the parliament building
• 5-cent coin: Grohar's The Sower
• 2-cent coin: the Prince's Stone
• 1-cent coin: a stork

Slovenian euro coins will also bear the inscription 'Slovenia' along the edge of the coin, which is a unique feature, aimed to achieve greater international recognisability.

The Bank of Slovenia commissioned the Mint of Finland to mint 234 million Slovenian euro coins. In total, they weigh 1,465 tonnes and are worth 103.9 million euros.

Since 1 December, legal persons can order euro coins based on the estimates on of their needs. Since 15 December, individuals can buy euro starter kits (450,000 kits contain 44 euro coins, totalling 12.52 euro) for 3,000 tolars (according to the irrevocable exchange rate) and use them from 1 January 2007.